If one gives
another living entity unnecessary pain, one will certainly be punished
by the laws of nature with a similar pain. Although the hunter Mrigari
was uncivilized, he still had to suffer the results of his sinful
activities. However, if a civilized man kills animals regularly in a
slaughterhouse to maintain his so-called civilization, using scientific
methods and machines to kill animals, one cannot even estimate the
suffering awaiting him. So-called civilized people consider themselves
very advanced in education, but they do not know about the stringent
laws of nature. According to nature’s law, it is a life for a life. We
can hardly imagine the sufferings of one who maintains a
slaughterhouse. He endures suffering not only in this life, but in his
next life also. It is said that a hunter, murderer or killer is advised
not to live and not to die. If he lives, he accumulates even more sins,
which bring about more suffering in a future life. He is advised not to
die because his dying means that he immediately begins to endure more
suffering. Therefore he is advised not to live and not to die.
As followers of the Vedic principles, we accept the statements of
Narada Muni in this regard. It is our duty to see that no one suffers
due to sinful activities. Foolish rascals are described in the Bhagavad-gita
as mayayapahrita-jnanah [Bhagavad-gita
7.15], which indicates that although they are superficially educated, maya
has taken their real knowledge away. Such people are presently leading
human society. In Srimad-Bhagavatam they are described as
andha yathandhair upaniyamanah [Srimad-Bhagavatam
7.5.31]. These rascals are themselves blind, and yet they are leading
others who are blind. When people follow such leaders, they suffer
unlimited pains in the future. Despite so-called advancement, all this
is happening. Who is safe? Who is happy? Who is without anxiety?
Madhya
24.250
“Narada Muni continued, ‘My dear hunter, your business is killing
animals. That is a slight offense on your part. But when you
consciously give them unnecessary pain by leaving them half-dead, you
incur very great sins.’
This is another
good instruction to animal-killers. There are always animal-killers and
animal-eaters in human society because less civilized people are
accustomed to eating meat. In the Vedic civilization, meat-eaters are
advised to kill an animal for the goddess Kali or a similar demigod.
This is in order not to give the animal unnecessary pain, as
slaughterhouses do. In the bali-dana sacrifice to a demigod, it
is recommended to cut the throat of an animal with one slice. This
should be done on a dark-moon night, and the painful noises expressed
by the animal at the time of being slaughtered are not to be heard by
anyone. There are also many other restrictions. Slaughter is allowed
only once a month, and the killer of the animal has to suffer similar
pains in his next life. At the present moment, so-called civilized men
do not sacrifice animals to a deity in a religious or ritualistic way.
They openly kill animals daily by the thousands for no purpose other
than the satisfaction of the tongue. Because of this the entire world
is suffering in so many ways. Politicians are unnecessarily declaring
war, and according to the stringent laws of material nature, massacres
are taking place between nations.
Prakriteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvashah,
ahankara-vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate. “The bewildered spirit
soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks
himself to be the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out
by nature.” (Bhagavad-gita 3.27) The laws of prakriti
(nature) are very stringent. No one should think that he has the
freedom to kill animals and not suffer the consequences. One cannot be
safe by doing this. Narada Muni herein says that animal-killing is
offensive, especially when animals are given unnecessary pain.
Meat-eaters and animal-killers are advised not to purchase meat from
the slaughterhouse. They can worship Kali once a month, kill some
unimportant animal and eat it. Even by following this method, one is
still an offender.
Madhya
24.251
“Narada Muni continued, ‘All the animals that you have killed and given
unnecessary pain will kill you one after the other in your next life
and in life after life.’
This is another authoritative statement made by the great sage Narada.
Those who kill animals and give them unnecessary pain—as people do in
slaughterhouses—will be killed in a similar way in the next life and in
many lives to come. One can never be excused from such an offense. If
one kills many thousands of animals in a professional way so that other
people can purchase the meat to eat, one must be ready to be killed in
a similar way in his next life and in life after life. There are many
rascals who violate their own religious principles. According to
Judeo-Christian scriptures, it is clearly said, “Thou shalt not kill.”
Nonetheless, giving all kinds of excuses, even the heads of religions
indulge in killing animals while trying to pass as saintly persons.
This mockery and hypocrisy in human society bring about unlimited
calamities; therefore occasionally there are great wars. Masses of such
people go out onto battlefields and kill themselves. Presently they
have discovered the atomic bomb, which is simply waiting to be used for
wholesale destruction. If people want to be saved from the killing
business life after life, they must take to Krishna consciousness and
cease sinful activity. The International Society for Krishna
Consciousness recommends that everyone abandon meat-eating, illicit
sex, intoxication and gambling. When one gives up these sinful
activities, he can understand Krishna and take to this Krishna
consciousness movement. We therefore request everyone to abandon sinful
activity and chant the Hare Krishna mantra. In this way people
can save themselves from repeated birth and death and from being killed
like the animals in slaughterhouses.
