Protect A Cow

Human society needs only sufficient grain and sufficient cows to solve its economic problems.

SB 3.2.29 P   Remembrance of Lord Krsna TEXT 29

   As He grew to six and seven years old, the Lord was given charge of looking after the cows and bulls in the grazing grounds. He was the son of a well-to-do landholder who owned hundreds and thousands of cows, and according to Vedic economics, one is considered to be a rich man by the strength of his store of grains and cows. With only these two things, cows and grain, humanity can solve its eating problem. Human society needs only sufficient grain and sufficient cows to solve its economic problems. All other things but these two are artificial necessities created by man to kill his valuable life at the human level and waste his time in things which are not needed. Lord Krsna, as the teacher of human society, personally showed by His acts that the mercantile community, or the vaisyas, should herd cows and bulls and thus give protection to the valuable animals. According to smrti regulation, the cow is the mother and the bull the father of the human being. The cow is the mother because just as one sucks the breast of one's mother, human society takes cow's milk. Similarly, the bull is the father of human society because the father earns for the children just as the bull tills the ground to produce food grains. Human society will kill its spirit of life by killing the father and the mother. It is mentioned herein that the beautiful cows and bulls were of various checkered colors--red, black, green, yellow, ash, etc. And because of their colors and healthy smiling features, the atmosphere was enlivening.

One need only work to produce grains and take care of the cows. All economic problems can be solved in that way.

SB 4.30.44  The Activities of the Pracetas                             

                                   TEXT

                       atha niryaya salilat
                       pracetasa udanvatah
                   viksyakupyan drumais channam
                   gam gam roddhum ivocchritaih

                              SYNONYMS

   atha--thereafter; niryaya--after coming out; salilat--from the water; pracetasah--all the Pracetas; udanvatah--of the sea; viksya--having observed; akupyan--became very angry; drumaih--by trees; channam--covered; gam--the world; gam--the heavenly planets; roddhum--to obstruct; iva--as if; ucchritaih--very tall.

                            TRANSLATION

   Thereafter all the Pracetas emerged from the waters of the sea. They then saw that all the trees on land had grown very tall, as if to obstruct the path to the heavenly planets. These trees had covered the entire surface of the world. At this time the Pracetas became very angry.

                                PURPORT

   King Pracinabarhisat left his kingdom before his sons arrived after their execution of penance and austerity. The sons, the Pracetas, were ordered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to come out of the water and go to the kingdom of their father in order to take care of that kingdom. However, when they came out, they saw that everything had been neglected due to the King's absence. They first observed that food grains were not being produced and that there were no agricultural activities. Indeed, the surface of the world was practically covered by very tall trees. It seemed as though the trees were determined to stop people from going into outer space to reach the heavenly kingdoms. The Pracetas became very angry when they saw the surface of the globe covered in this way. They desired that the land be cleared for crops.
   It is not a fact that jungles and trees attract clouds and rain, because we find rainfall over the sea. Human beings can inhabit any place on the surface of the earth by clearing jungles and converting land for agricultural purposes. People can keep cows, and all economic problems can be solved in that way. One need only work to produce grains and take care of the cows. The wood found in the jungles may be used for constructing cottages. In this way the economic problem of humanity can be solved. At the present moment there are many vacant lands throughout the world, and if they are properly utilized, there will be no scarcity of food. As far as rain is concerned, it is the performance of yajna that attracts rain. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (3.14):

                      annad bhavanti bhutani
                     parjanyad anna-sambhavah
                     yajnad bhavati parjanyo
                     yajnah karma-samudbhavah

   "All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains. Rains are produced by performance of yajna [sacrifice], and yajna is born of prescribed duties." By performing sacrifice, man will have sufficient rainfall and crops.

If you want to eat meat, there are so many other animals. But don't touch cow.

770424me.bom                                         Conversations
Prabhupada: (chants japa) If actually government follows Bhagavad-gita, then they should stop this cow slaughter immediately. Go-raksya. If you want to eat meat, there are so many other animals. But don't touch cow. What is this? Ten thousand cows are being killed every day. And you are preaching nonviolence. (chants japa)

The greatest sinful activity is cow slaughter.

770219r3.may                                         Conversations
Tripurari: I think there is more animal slaughter in Argentina than anywhere in the world.
Prabhupada: Most sinful.
Adi-kesava: That is the national industry there, cattle slaughter.
Prabhupada: It has become national industry in Africa also.
Hari-sauri: And Australia...
Prabhupada: Australia.
Hari-sauri: ...New Zealand.
Prabhupada: Therefore the world is suffering, so much sinful activities. The greatest sinful activity is cow slaughter, and they are committing. They do not know what will be the result. Such brain, stool, stool-bound brain. Thorough overhaul is required. That we are doing. Otherwise the stool cannot be cleansed.

Because it is important, therefore Krsna said, krsi-go-raksya. "You must protect cows." And modern civilization first of all killed all the cows.

761227mw.bom              Conversations                          
Prabhupada: No, no, we are speaking... We are speaking... Because it is important, therefore Krsna said, krsi-go-raksya. Why go-raksya required, you do not require any explanation. Krsna said, go-raksya, "You must protect." That's all. That is Krsna conscious. Because we have no brain why Krsna--giving up all other animals--He is giving stress on go. And that is meaning. He never said, animal-raksya, pasu-raksya, no. Those who want to eat pasu, let them eat nonimportant like hogs and dogs. There are class of men who eat dogs also, hogs also. Or, utmost, goats. But don't touch cow. This is instruction. And modern civilization first of all killed all the cows.

 

If you can live very peacefully, very nicely, with good health, by eating so many varieties of foodstuff given by Krsna, why should I kill an animal?

681227BG.LA                  Lectures  
What is the purpose of eating? To live. If you can live very peacefully, very nicely, with good health, by eating so many varieties of foodstuff given by Krsna, why should I kill an animal? This is humanity. Why should I imitate an animal? Then what is the difference between animal and human being? If you have no discretion, if you have no consciousness.
   Besides that, scientifically, your teeth is meant for eating vegetables. The tiger has teeth for eating meat. Nature has made it like that. It has to kill another... Therefore he has got nails, he has got teeth, he has got strength. But you have no such strength. You cannot kill a cow like that, pouncing like tiger. You have to make slaughterhouse and sit down at your home. Somebody may slaughter, and you can eat very nicely. What is this? You do like tiger. Pounce upon a cow and eat. (laughter) You cannot do that. You cannot do that.
Guest: What you're saying, then, you believe that nature's perfect.
Prabhupada: Nature's law. That is... A tiger is made by nature's law in that way; therefore he can do that. You cannot do it. Your nature is different. You have got discrimination, you have got conscience, you are claiming civilized, human being. So you should utilize these things. That is Krsna consciousness, perfect consciousness. So human life is meant for raising oneself to the perfection of consciousness, and that is Krsna conscious. We cannot remain in tiger consciousness. That is not humanity. Yes.

we have introduced these ideas by establishing farm communities and protecting our cows. And our cows are winning awards for giving the most milk, because they are so jubilant. They know, "These people will not kill me."

Spiritual Solutions to Material Problems        books
Srila Prabhupada: No. The main thing is, society must learn to discriminate between pious and sinful activities. Human beings must engage in pious activities, not sinful activities. Otherwise, they have no brain. They are no better than animals. And from the moral point of view, do you like sending your mother to the slaughterhouse? You are drinking the milk of the cow--so she is your mother--and after that you are sending her to the slaughterhouse. That is why we ask. Where is society's brain?
Mr. Hennis: Of course, when we speak of the distinctions that are made between pious activities and sinful activities--
Srila Prabhupada: Today practically no one is making this distinction. We are making it, and we have introduced these ideas by establishing farm communities and protecting our cows. And our cows are winning awards for giving the most milk, because they are so jubilant. They know, "These people will not kill me." They know it, so they are very happy. Nor do we kill their calves. At other farms, soon after the cow gives birth to a calf, they pull her calf away for slaughter. You see? This means society has no brain. You may create hundreds of organizations, but society will never be happy. That is the verdict.
Mr. Hennis: Well, we can't be accused of engaging in sinful activities when we don't think what we are doing is sinful.
Srila Prabhupada [Laughing]: Oh? You don't think you can be accused of breaking the state law--just because you don't know what the state law is? The point is, if your priestly class have no knowledge of what is sinful, they may instruct you, "Don't do anything sinful"--but what good is that? You must have a priestly class who know what is sinful, so that they can teach you. And then you must give up your sinful activities. When these young people came to me, I told them, "Flesh-eating, illicit sex, gambling, and intoxication--these things are sinful. You must give them up." If we do not give up these sinful activities, nature punishes us. So we must know the laws of nature, what nature wants. At the very least, nature wants that we human beings stop our sinful activities. If we do not, then we must be punished.

The cow is giving milk and the bull is working for you, and then you slaughter them? What is this philosophy?

N98:TQE 2   Matter, Spirit, and the Controller of Both       books
It is not that national leaders should be concerned only with human beings. The definition of native is "one who takes birth in a particular nation." So, the cow is also a native. Then why should the cow be slaughtered? The cow is giving milk and the bull is working for you, and then you slaughter them? What is this philosophy? In the Christian religion it is clearly stated, "Thou shalt not kill." Yet most of the slaughterhouses are in the Christian countries.
   This is all a misunderstanding of spiritual life. Every animal should be given protection. That is the Vedic idea. Otherwise, by killing, killing, killing, you become entangled in sinful activities. Therefore now the women are killing their own children in the womb. This is going on.
   We cannot be happy in this way, because we shall become more and more entangled in sinful actions and their resultant reactions. Then we will have to take various types of bodies, perpetually.
   Therefore, we have begun this Krsna consciousness movement. By taking advantage of this movement, people can awaken to God consciousness, stop sinful activities, and become purified. Without becoming purified, one cannot understand God.

 

Let them be engaged in spinning all their necessities of life, in plowing, in protection of the cows.

770423me.bom                                         Conversations
Prabhupada:So we have to begin. The villagers must come, sit down and chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra, and give them prasadam. If you can bring them, so far money is concerned for giving prasadam, that we shall arrange. Then, gradually, let them be engaged in spinning all their necessities of life, in plowing, in protection of the cows. They get some... We have done it already in foreign countries--enough milk, enough vegetables, enough food grains. They're so happy. They're so happy. This nonsense civilization, attracting to earn money and construct anthill... These skyscraper buildings are as good as the anthill. It has no meaning. But they are constructing. So the change of attraction. Raso vai sah. All the rasas, they should be trained up to take it from Krsna. Just like Dhruva Maharaja. Svamin krtartho 'smi varam na yace: "I have got the rasa from You. I don't want anything more." This is perfection. Otherwise, for these material rasas, punah punas carvita-carvananam. That I was discussing last night. They have got sex rasa at home. Still, they're going prostitute-hunting. (break) "Mahatma Gandhi, you have got influence over the Muslims. Why don't you stop cow-killing?" And he said, "Oh, how can I stop it? It is their religion."
Mr. Dwivedi: Which is not a fact.
Prabhupada: Eh?
Mr. Dwivedi: Which is also not a fact. Which is also not a fact.
Prabhupada: I do not wish to discuss our...
Mr. Dwivedi: Because he tried to mix politics with religion...
Prabhupada: Yes!
Mr. Dwivedi: And therefore...
Prabhupada: It was failure.
Mr. Dwivedi: ...he could not succeed.
Prabhupada: It was failure.

Krsna is our authority. He says, krsi-go-raksya. Go-raksya: "You must give protection to the cows."

770418rc.bom                                         Conversations
Dr. Sharma: Even the smallpox vaccination that was discovered by Edgar Jenner in 1796, it was really from the cow pox serum they discovered. The first vaccination he used on his own son. (indistinct) People who were living with the cows, they were not affected by smallpox, though the people did not have a cow in the house, they were affected the most. So it protects from cow pox, small pox.
Prabhupada: Oh, yes. Cow protection protects us from so many infectious disease.
Dr. Sharma: Even the cows, they have habit to take the leaves along the banks of the river. The iodine content of the grass is so high. It has got iodine in that. So if you smear cow dung on the floor... It is said it is an obnoxious thing. There is tincture of iodine sold in the shops (indistinct). It is most unfortunate that we do not appreciate, the nature itself is giving us aids.
Prabhupada: We take it seriously because Krsna says. Krsna is our authority. He says, krsi-go-raksya. Go-raksya: "You must give protection to the cows." This is authority.
Dr. Sharma: And the proper facility appears in the rights and democratic (indistinct). But we have a right to live on this planet. Why should we (indistinct) the right of another man?
Prabhupada: They are... They are... They are described in the Bhagavata, papinah. Those who are killing other animals for maintaining his own body, they are very, very sinful. Very, very sinful.

The state must be in favor of brahminical culture and cow protection. Then everything will be all right.

770228rc.may                                         Conversations
Prabhupada:Unless an ideal class of men is on the top of the state to give advice--just like Britishers, they assemble Parliament--there cannot be any improvement to the human society. All nonsense and rascals, simply by votes go to be member of the Parliament. They assemble. What they know? What they'll do? The whole world is mismanaged because there is no brahminical culture. Namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmana-hitaya ca, jagad-dhitaya krsnaya govinda... I am proposing this because Krsna consciousness means namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmana-hitaya ca. That must be... The state must be in favor of brahminical culture and cow protection. Then everything will be all right.

Even if the cows do not supply milk, still, they should be protected.

770225ed.may                                         Conversations
Prabhupada: ...earning and cow protection. You must do it. The other day I was explaining that not from economic point of view, even the cows do not supply milk, still, they should be protected.
Bali-mardana: Hm. Just to protect them.
Prabhupada: Because that stool and urine is also useful. Cow is so important. They'll eat and they'll pass stool and urine. That is also important. If they supply milk, it is well, very good. Otherwise the stool and urine is also important. From that point of view we should give protection. So they are doing this cow slaughter business. (aside:) For you. Therefore they are suffering so much.

Our Bhagavad-gita says, krsi-go-raksya vaisya. Means krsi-go-raksya, to protect cows. Nowadays not to protect cows--to kill cows. Just see.

730905rc.sto              Conversations  
"During the reign of Maharaja Yudhisthira, the clouds showered all the water that people needed, and the earth produced all the necessities of man in profusion. Due to its fatty milk bag, and cheerful attitude, the cow used to moisten the grazing ground with milk."
Prabhupada: Now, happy attitude. Now the cow are going to be killed. They know it, that "We are going to be killed." They're also intelligent living entity. So how they can be happy? If some human being concentrated in a camp, and they know that "We are going to be killed," can they be happy? So if one is not happy, if the cow is not happy, can she supply sufficient milk? No. No. Therefore just they were happy. Therefore milk was supplied so much that the grazing ground became wet with milk. Muddy. With milk, not with water. So we, we have no intelligence how to live. We... Our Bhagavad-gita says, krsi-go-raksya vaisya. Means krsi-go-raksya, to protect cows. Nowadays not to protect cows--to kill cows. Just see, business. Vaisya means businessman. So vaisya's business is krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam. But no go-raksya. Cutting the throat of go (cow). This kind of sinful activities are going on, and they want to be happy. Instead of giving protection to the cows... In the Bible, also it is said that the animals are given under the protection of the human being.
Paramahamsa: Man, yeah, yes.
Prabhupada: Man. The protection means to kill them. Just see. They have interpreted like that, that "The animals have been given to us to kill them and eat." This is their interpretation.

 

It was, of course, Gandhi's policy to concentrate his organization in village life, taking to simple life and cow protection

69-06-05.Gop           Letter
In my opinion, India is going down by giving up this original cultural life which is its own. The government is enamored by the glittering civilization of the West, and it was a definite policy of our late prime minister, Mr. Nehru, who wanted to see India overnight as rich and materially advanced as America. It was, of course, Gandhi's policy to concentrate his organization in village life, taking to simple life and cow protection. But just after Mahatma Gandhi's disappearance, his chief disciple, Pandit Nehru, planned for up-to-date organized cow-slaughter house. So this is our position. If you have understood Krishna Consciousness science, then you will try to revive this cultural life in India. Of course so long I shall live I shall give you all assistance.

Why should you invent such civilization always full of anxieties, running the car here and there, and fight with other nation

SOCRATES.HAY              Philosophy
Advancement of civilization is, as Krsna advises, that you require food, so produce food grain. Remain wherever you are. You can produce food grain anywhere, a little labor. And keep cows, go-raksya, krsi-go-raksya vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam. Solve your problem like... Produce your food wherever you are there. Till little, little labor, and you will get your whole year's food. And distribute the food to the animal, cow, and eat yourself. The cow will eat the refuse. You take the rice, and the skin you give to the cow. From dahl you take the grain, and the skin you give to the... And fruit, you take the fruit, and the skin you give to the cow, and he will give you milk. So why should you kill him? Milk is the miraculous food; therefore Krsna says krsi-go-raksya vanijyam vaisya. Give protection to the cow, take milk from it, and eat food grains--your food problem is solved. Where is food problem? Why should you invent such civilization always full of anxieties, running the car here and there, and fight with other nation, and economic development? What is this civilization? Therefore we require to take to Krsna consciousness to become happy every way--economically, philosophically, religiously, culturally, everything. That is Krsna consciousness.

Krsna says, go-raksya... He doesn't say only give protection to the milk cow

761216pc.hyd              Conversations
Guest (8): You'll be talking about the cow protection also.
Prabhupada: Oh, yes. Oh, yes. Whatever Krsna has said. Krsna says, krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam. He is giving you. That is our duty. I told these boys, "The cows, whether they give milk or not milk, it doesn't matter. They should be given protection."
Guest (8): They should be given?
Prabhupada: Given protection. If Krsna says, go-raksya... He doesn't say only give protection to the milk cow.

By God's arrangement there is so much land on this planet that you can produce ten times the food stuff of the whole population

761016iv.cha              Conversations
Prabhupada: Yes. And the thing is that cow is especially recommended in the Bhagavad-gita, krsi-go-raksya vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam. That you must produce enough food grains by agriculture and give protection to the cows. That means if you have got enough food grains to eat and if you have got enough milk to get fatty substance, then your whole economic question is solved. Annad bhavanti bhutani. If you get sufficient food there is no question of agitation. Everyone is satisfied. Animal and man. So you must produce. That is recommendation in the Bhagavad-gita.
Interviewer: Sir, in the modern technological...
Prabhupada: Modern, we are not talking of modern or... We're talking...
Interviewer: In this age, how has the, you know, instrument of production because of this tractor, mechanization of agriculture.
Prabhupada: So that is your interpretation. But we are trying to present Bhagavad-gita as it is. That is our mission. That you produce food grains sufficiently and give protection to the cows so that food grains and milk will give you all benefits of economic question. You'll be satisfied. That's all. Not only that, I have practically seen that by God's arrangement there are so much land on this planet that you can produce ten times food stuff of the whole population. But they are not doing that. They are utilizing land... Just like in Africa I have seen, enough land is there, but what they are doing? They are keeping some cows and bulls, and when they are grown up... They are not given anything to eat. There is enough grass. And as soon as they are fatty, they are taken to the slaughterhouse. Not for their own eating, but exporting. This business is going on. Similar business is going on in Australia and New Zealand. Unnecessarily they are killing these cows, and this shortage of foodstuff and shortage of milk, this is not good arrangement. The recommended process in the Bhagavad-gita, that annad bhavanti bhutani. If you have sufficient foodstuff, then everyone is satisfied. And it is the duty of the vaisya class, krsi go-raksya vanijyam; go-raksya vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam. The, according to Bhagavad-gita, this is the business of the vaisyas. The brahmanas, they should be very much highly educated, enligthened in spiritual knowledge. The ksatriyas, they should govern, give protection. The vaisyas, they should produce enough food. And those who are neither brahmana nor ksatriya, sudras, they can help. That's all. This is their.... Then everyone will be satisfied. The society will go on. Just like in your body you require brain, the head, you require arms, you require belly, you require legs. Similarly, brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra. That is essential. If you have simply brain and no leg then it is also useless. There must be brain and leg also. There must be brahmana, there must be sudra, there must be.... Then the social arrangement is perfect.
Interviewer: Would that mean that you support the ancient caste system?
Prabhupada: Huh? It is not caste system. It is division of labor. It is not caste system. A class of men must be intelligent, a class of men must be strong to give protection. And a class of men must be to produce food, and a class of men, general worker. It is not caste system. Bhagavad-gita never says caste system. Catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah. According to quality and work. You have made it caste system. You have no qualification of a brahmana, you are calling, "I am brahmana." That is caste system. But if you have got the quality of a brahmana and you work as a brahmana, that is necessary. That is necessary. Guna-karma-vibhagasah.

Therefore we are so much fond of cow protection

760727iv.lon              Conversations
Therefore we are so much fond of cow protection. It gives the basic principle of palatable foodstuff. But these people, they do not know. They simply cut the throat of the cow and boil it and with salt. (laughter) They do not know how to keep the cow and take milk from it and prepare hundreds and thousands of nice preparations. That is a lack of civilization. Just like all the, what is called, aborigines, they find an animal, kill it and eat. They do not how to utilize the animals. Most aboriginal. We keep cows, we take milk, and from milk we make yogurt, we make ghee (clarified butter), and from ghee we prepare so many things.

We follow Krsna's instruction that cow milk is very important so we drink the (protected) cow's milk

760708ed.wdc              Conversations
Prabhupada: Whatever it may be, we are layman, and we follow Krsna's instruction that cow, milk is very important, we drink the cow's milk, therefore she is mother. So at least she should be saved from being killed. This is common sense. Apart from other big, big reasoning, we take it, Krsna says go-raksya, so we take it. Besides that, so far vegetables are concerned, Krsna says that patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati: "If anyone offers Me even patram," patram puspam phalam toyam,"I eat them." So we take Krsna's prasadam. So Krsna says "You give Me these vegetables, plants." So we offer Him, and then we take. Besides that, everybody has to eat something. So generally, food grains, vegetables, they are recommended for eating purpose. And those who want to eat meat or fish, they can do so, but at least they can avoid the important life of cow. That is recommended. So far we are concerned, we are eating Krsna prasadam, foodstuff offered to Krsna, and this, there is no such thing as meat or fish, or egg, but we are living. Not that because we do not eat meat or fish, we are dying. We can eat very easily. Anna. Annad bhavanti bhutani. Actually, if we take food grains like wheat, rice, pulses, vegetables, fruits, milk, that is quite sufficient, nutritious foodstuff, full with vitamins and, what is called, protein, carbohydrate. That is sufficient. Why should we kill? At least, cow? That is our request, because Krsna says go-raksya. And in His practical life He played as a cowherd boy giving protection to other cows. There is a picture, Krsna is sitting, and the cow and the calf is feeling very safety. Krsna is embracing. So because we want to be Krsna conscious, we want to follow His personal behavior and instruction.

So you are drawing the last drop of milk from the cow and sending her to the slaughterhouse. Is that very good civilization?

760708ed.wdc              Conversations
Prabhupada: No, you, we are speaking go-raksya (cow protection). That is not point of view of killing. There are other animals. We do not say that you stop. If you want to eat some meat, at least don't kill cow. You can kill other insignificant animals which has no importance. Cow has got special importance because it supplies milk, and milk is very essential food that is... From the childhood, a child lives on milk, and there are many saintly persons, they also live by drinking milk. Milk is very important item in the human society, and it supplies all vitamins. Even if you say that "Meat-eating is essential for me," you can eat other animals, but don't kill cows. That is our proposal. Give protection to the cows. Krsna mentioned specifically, go-raksya. He does not say that you don't kill, but you give protection to the cows. And if you want to eat meat, you can kill other animals. On the whole, pasu-himsa, any animal killing, is not good for spiritual life. And so far vegetable is concerned, everyone has to eat something. So if you can eat vegetables, that does not mean because somebody is killing vegetables, he should kill his own father and mother on that plea. So cow is mother because we are drinking her milk. So you cannot put any argument in favor of killing mother. If you... Anyone who supplies milk from the body, she is mother. According to Vedic civilization, cow is one of the seven mothers. There are seven mothers: the real mother, atma- mata guroh patni, the wife of spiritual master; then queen, raja-patnika. Atma-mata guroh patni brahmani, the wife of a brahmana. In this way, especially, seven mothers, dhenu, dhenu means cow, and dhatri, nurse, she is also mother. So from that point of view, cow is mother, and you cannot kill on any ground the mother. That is not good reasoning. You are taking the last drop of milk. In South Africa you said?
Pusta Krsna: Yes. They have one slaughterhouse and just beside, I have seen, just beside there is dairy. So at night they bring the cows in to the dairy, milk them to the last drop, and then to the slaughterhouse and all night screaming. I heard because the Indian neighborhood was about five hundred yards from the slaughterhouse. Then in the morning you'd drive by and the carcasses are hanging up.
Prabhupada: So you are drawing the last drop of milk from the cow and sending her to the slaughterhouse. Is that very good civilization?

The cow, give protection, take milk from it, and prepare nice preparations, that will be good for brain, for your mind

 760702ar.wdc              Conversations
Prabhupada:This is a very good example. Just like salt, we require. A little salt will increase the taste. But because it is absolutely necessary for eating, salt--everyone eats salt, nobody can avoid salt--it does not mean I shall eat too much. If I take this whole salt pot and put into..., "It is very good," that is foolishness. Similarly, sense gratification, so long we have got this material body, we require little. But because it is tasty, let us take it, whole pot, that is mistake. This is going on. This foolishness is going on. Sex life is good; simply take sex life, go on and spoil your whole life. That is going on. If everything is accepted in regulative principle, little salt, that's all, that's very nice. But as soon as you think "It is very nice. Let me take simply this," then it is spoiled. That is wanted. We don't reject anything but accept in a regular way. Flesh eaters? All right, you want flesh? "No, I want flesh, but I want this big cow." Why not less important animals? There are so many other animals. The goats are there, the lambs are there, the hogs are there. Take them. Why Krsna says go-raksya? It is a very important animal. It will give you brain substance, this rasagulla. Therefore Krsna says go-raksya. But this rascal has no knowledge. The cows give us milk, very nutritious. "Oh, eat the whole cow. Then all nutrition will come." This is their intelligence. Rubbish civilization. Why Krsna has recommended go-raksya? He never said that other animal. If you are fond of eating flesh, you take other animals, not the cow. Give protection, take milk from it, and prepare nice preparations, that will be good for brain, for your mind. Apart from... There is no question of religious sentiment. From practical.

Go-raksya, the point is that cow's milk is very important

760530mw.hon              Conversations
Prabhupada: Go-raksya, the point is that cow's milk is very important. Therefore specifically mentioned go-raksya. Krsna does not say that don't eat meat. It is not really said that meat-eating is forbidden. But meat-eating is tamasika, pramadya (indistinct). But He's speaking of go-raksya for our special material benefit, that if we protect the cows, we can have the facility of drinking milk, which will help us in keeping our health in order and developing very nice brain tissues to understand spiritual subject matter. Fish-eaters, they're all dull. They cannot understand finer philosophy of life. Meat-eating, not good. But the sudras, and the less than sudras, they eat. But for them there's lower animals, not cow.

cow protection is required.

760423rc.mel              Conversations
Prabhupada: Stricture in this way, no meat-eating, because cow protection is required. We require milk. And instead of taking milk, if we eat the cows, then where is milk?
Guest: So milk is very important.
Prabhupada: Very, very important.
Guest: In terms of production of food for the world, the world would be much better off without eating animals.
Prabhupada: No, milk is required. Some fatty vitaminous food is required. That necessity is supplied by milk. Therefore specifically...
Guest: Couldn't you get all the necessity you require from grains?
Prabhupada: Grains, no. Grains, they are starch. According to medical science, we require four different groups: starch, carbohydrate, protein, and fat. That is full food. So you can get all these things by eating rice, dahl, mean pulses, and wheat, and.... These things contain.... Pulses and wheat contains protein. And milk also contains protein. So protein we require. Fat we get from milk. Fat is required. And vegetables, carbohydrate; and food grain, starch. So if you prepare nice foodstuff with all these ingredients, you get full..., and offer to Krsna, then it's purified. Then you are free from all sinful activities. Otherwise, even if you kill vegetable, you are sinful because it has got life. You have no right to kill another life. But you have to live on life. This is your position. Therefore the solution is that you take prasadam. If there is sin by eating vegetable or meat it goes to the eater. We take the remnants, that's all.

"Cows should be protected." That is Krsna's order

760421mw.mel              Conversations
Prabhupada: Hayagriva edited. He thought, "cattle-raising." Not "cattle-raising," but the word.... There.... It is mistranslation. It is go-raksya, "giving protection to the cows." Especially mentioned, go-raksya, not otherwise. The animal-eaters may take other animals, but not cow. They can take the pig, goats, lambs, rabbits, so many others, if they at all want to eat meat, birds, these so many. There is no such mention that "Animals should be protected," no. "Cows should be protected." That is Krsna's order. (break) They have decided to kill the cow. They have decided, "No brain. Eat." And our prayer is go-brahmana-hitaya ca, "to do good to the brahmanas and the cows." Actually it is revolutionary to the modern age. But how it is possible we say otherwise? That Bon Maharaja came and said, "Right? Am I right?" (?) When Bon Maharaja here.... When our students said something, "Oh, that you cannot say. That you cannot say." He said like that.
Guru-krpa: Yeah?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Guru-krpa: We can say; you cannot say.
Prabhupada: He's such a rascal.

Krsna consciousness means go-brahmana-hitaya ca, for the benefit of brahminical culture and cow protection

760409mw.vrn              Conversations
Prabhupada: There is.... The brahmana... This is brahmana. This formula is there. Satya samo damas titiksa arjava. So you have to see whether he is possessing this quality. Or train them. Have brahminical school, what I am willing to do. That is required absolutely. There must be a class of men, perfect brahmana. Otherwise society will be ruined. In the Western countries there is no brahmana. There may be some ksatriyas and vaisyas only, and sudras. Brahmana there is none. So the same thing is here also now. Therefore the whole society is going down. There is no brahmana. What is this? This is brahminical culture. We are asking them not to be sinful, become devotee. This is brahminical culture. Namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmana-hitaya ca. Krsna consciousness means go-brahmana-hitaya ca, for the benefit of brahminical culture and cow protection. That is brahminical culture.

 

Life can be easily maintained by agriculture and cow protection

750913mw.vrn              Conversations
Prabhupada: This is called hog life, how to maintain this body. Kastan kaman. Kaman means necessities of life. Very, with great difficulty... (break) ...kaman. Life can be easily maintained by agriculture and cow protection. No. They will start big, big mills, factories, motor tires, cars, instruments. Kastan kaman. In the Bhagavad-gita it is called ugra-karma, fierce... (aside) Hare Krsna. Fierceful activities.
Vraja-vasi: Haribol!
Prabhupada: Hare Krsna. Kastan kaman. Unnecessarily creating problems. (break) ...one after another, one after another. Formerly paper was used only for Vedic knowledge. Now the paper used for so many useless newspaper, volumes and volumes and jasusi(?), unnecessarily creating agitation of the mind. And if you explain these things they will say, "This is all primitive ideas." Modern ideas means one must work very hard day and night to get a little piece of chapati (bread). Hm? What is the answer.

if the cows are kept jubilant, they will deliver double milk

750705rc.chi              Conversations
Prabhupada: No, no, if you become first-class, and they will follow you. You remain last-class, and how you can train your first-class? (laughter) In the sastra it is said, "Unless you can create first-class man, don't beget children." Pita na sa syaj janani na sa syad gurur na sa syat, na mocayed yah samupeta-mrtyum. It is the duty of the father to raise his children first-class. Otherwise he should not become a father. That is contraceptive. Just like Vasudeva and Devaki. Formerly they were Vasus and they were asked by Brahma to create progeny. So the husband and wife, they practiced austerities very severely. So then God appeared before them: "What do you want?" And they said that "We can enter into family life provided You become our son." No, "If we get a son like you." Then God said, "Where is second person like Me? So I shall become your son." Then, in next life, Devaki got Krsna as his child. So every father and mother should take this vow, that "Unless our children become first-class, we don't want children." This is ideal. What is the use of begetting cats and dogs? You must have first-class children. That requires tapasya. So at least we should follow the standard, how to raise our children to become first-class. There is no current? You can get on the light. At the present moment, people cannot understand even that there is life after death. Most people. There is life after death--they cannot understand, even big, big professors, big, big learned scholars. Everyone is thinking, "This body is accidental and when the body will be finished, everything is finished." That is the general understanding. But Bhagavad-gita, you read. It is said, na hanyate hanyamane sarire: "After the destruction of the body, the soul is not destroyed." Vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya navani anyani grhnati aparani: "Just like when our dress becomes old enough not to be used, then we accept another dress, similarly, when this body is old enough, not workable, then we accept another body." These things are there. But who is trying to understand it? At least all our Indians, those who are born in India, wherefrom Bhagavad-gita has come out, at least they should understand. But they are not understanding. They are interpreting Bhagavad-gita in their own way. This is the difficulty. Therefore we are presenting Bhagavad-gita as it is, and people are taking advantage of that. So first-class man, he knows what is Bhagavad-gita and tries to apply the teachings in practical life. Then you become first-class. In the Bhagavad-gita you will find first-class eating, first-class life, second-class eating, second-class life, third-class... Everything is there. So people should be trained up. Economic question? That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita, annad bhavanti bhutani. You produce food grain, anna, sufficiently. So there is immense land still. Say, in America, so much land is without any utilization, in Africa, in Australia. They are not being properly utilized. People are complaining, "Overpopulation." Now countries which are overpopulated, they are not allowed to utilize the vacant land, neither people are being trained how to produce food grain. They are being trained up, technology, to produce motor tire. And nobody is interested to produce food grain. So without taking food grains, they are killing animals, and they are eating, short cut. They do not know killing of animals is sinful activity. This is the... Man is advanced; we can grow food. This killing of animals is for the non-civilized society. They cannot... They do not know how to grow food. They were killing animals. When man is advanced in his knowledge and education, why they should kill? Especially in America, we see so many nice foodstuffs. Fruits, grains, milk. And from milk, you can get hundreds of nice preparations, all nutritious. In our New Vrindaban we are doing that--rabri, pera, burfi. The other farmers are surprised that from milk such nice preparation can be prepared. So instead of teaching them--you Indian, you know how to utilize milk and prepare so many nice preparation,--you are learning how to eat meat. Why? So if you forget your culture and if you become victimized, that is your fault. You should teach them how to utilize milk. And if the cows are kept jubilant, they will deliver double milk. They know, "We shall be killed." They are always depressed. Therefore milk is not properly supplied. So that is stated in the Bhagavad..., er, Srimad-Bhagavatam, that during Maharaja Yudhisthira's time the cows were so jubilant that milk was dropping from the milkbags, so much so that the pasturing grounds became muddy with milk. So if you keep... Killing of cows means utilizing the blood in different form. The milk is also another transformation of the blood. So if you take milk sufficiently and prepare nice foodstuff, then it is equally beneficial like the meat from health point of view. But one must know the..., learn that keep the cow living; at the same time be benefited by the blood. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita you will find this word krsi-go-raksya. Go-raksya. This animal has to be protected. Not other animals it is mentioned. And go, cow. So those who are meat-eaters, they can eat nonimportant animals. But cows should be given protection. This is the instruction. But in the western country the cows are specially being killed. Now the reaction is war, crime, and they are now repentant. And they will have to repent more and more.
Jayatirtha: So the wars and the crime are a direct result of the cow slaughter.
Prabhupada: Oh, yes. Oh, yes. It is a wholesale reaction. All these crises are taking place. They are killing their own child. Own child means that child is criminal; therefore it is being killed within the womb. Nature will take action. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah. You are not independent. So if you work independently, then you will have to suffer. The law of nature is there. You cannot avoid it. If you infect some disease, you must suffer from the disease. You cannot avoid it. This is the law of nature. Law of nature is working in such a way that as you are infecting... Karanam guna-sangah asya sad-asad-janma-yonisu. Find out this verse. Why there are varieties of life. One is tree, one is cat, one is dog, one is human being, one is blind, one is lame, one is educated, one is foolish--why? Why the difference, varieties? And that is answered in the Bhagavad-gita, karanam guna-sango 'sya: "As you are infecting the modes of material nature, you are getting your birth." Otherwise, how you can explain by nature there are so many varieties of life, 8,400,000 species of life?
Jayatirtha: You mentioned several times that those persons who are guilty of abortion, then they also enter a womb, but they never leave it alive. They're also killed within the womb.
Prabhupada: Yes. That means... That child is killed means it must take another birth. Again in the womb it will be killed. Again another womb. This is going on. Mudha janmani janmani. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, "Birth after birth they will be put into the darkness of life."
Nitai:

                     purusah prakrti-stho hi
                    bhunkte prakrti-jan gunan
                      karanam guna-sango'sya
                      sad-asad-yoni-janmasu

   "The living entity in material nature thus follows the ways of life, enjoying the three modes of nature. This is due to his association with that material nature. Thus he meets with good and evil amongst various species."
Prabhupada: Purport.
Nitai: "This verse is very important for an understanding of how the living entities transmigrate from one body to another. It is explained in the Second Chapter that the living entity is transmigrating from one body to another just as one changes dress. This change of dress is due to his attachment to material existence. As long as he is captivated by this false manifestation, he has to continue transmigrating from one body to another. Due to his desire to lord it over material nature, he is put into such undesirable circumstances. Under the influence of material desire, the entity is born sometimes as a demigod, sometimes as a man, sometimes as a beast, as a bird, as a worm, as an aquatic, as a saintly man, as a bug. This is going on. And in all cases the living entity thinks himself to be the master of his circumstances, yet he is under the influence of material nature. How he is put into such different bodies is explained here. It is due to association with the different modes of nature. One has to rise, therefore, above the three material modes and become situated in the transcendental position. That is called Krsna consciousness. Unless one is situated in Krsna consciousness, his material consciousness will oblige him to transfer from one body to another because he has material desires since time immemorial. But he has to change that conception. That change can be effected only by hearing from authoritative sources. The best example is here: Arjuna is hearing the science of God from Krsna. The living entity, if he submits to this hearing process, will lose his long-cherished desire to dominate the material nature, and gradually and proportionately, as he reduces his long desire to dominate, he comes to enjoy spiritual happiness."

If you are a raksasa (satanic demon), if you want to eat meat, then at least don't kill the cows

750510mw.per              Conversations
Prabhupada: Anyone who takes milk... Everyone takes milk. The cow is the mother. Mother gives milk. And mother, when she cannot supply milk, mother should be cut up. Is that a very good philosophy? Is it human philosophy? What is the answer? But if you say that somebody wants to, say in your country majority they want to eat meat. So, if you put that argument, then you can eat some lower animals. You can eat the pigs. You are eating also, pigs. Not in a massive scale. Massive scale--if you are Christian you should follow your religious scripture: "Thou shall not kill!" This should be the principle. But if you are a raksasa, if you want to eat meat, then at least don't kill the cows. You can eat other, insignificant animals. You are eating also. You are eating everything. Except the moving cars, you are eating all the moving animals. The car also moves, but you cannot eat. Otherwise you are killing everything. You have become so civilized rascal that your business is to kill other animals and eat. You are so civilized. You are still in the crude form of human being, just like in the jungles, the aborigines, the Africans, they do not know how to develop civilization--crude methods, eating the animals. That also, they are not so uncivilized that they keep slaughterhouses. You are so uncivilized that you are keeping slaughterhouses, regularly. These Africans and other jungle people they eat meat, but they directly kill. They have no such civilization as to maintain a slaughterhouse. The tigers eat meat, but they do not keep a slaughterhouse. And you are civilized. You are keeping slaughterhouse. Why should you keep? The government shouldn't allow you to keep slaughterhouses. If anyone wants to eat meat, let them eat like tigers and others. Individually, kill one animal--a lower animal, not cows. This should be the government law. You can kill one insignificant animal, like pigs or goats. It has not very much use. You kill it in your home, before your children and family, and eat. The government may not have any objection. But why should you maintain slaughterhouses? So the agriculturist and the mercantile men, they should produce enough food, give protection to the cows, and if there is excess, sell it. Where there is not enough food grain produced you can make business. That is the instruction given in Bhagavad-gita, krsi-go-raksya vanijyam. That is really needed. Nobody is interested. Everyone comes to the city, the mercantile class. They are doing business, big, big skyscraper building, and they have artificial money, paper. And instead of eating food grains they are maintaining slaughterhouses. This is not good civilization. Hare Krsna.

Vedic civilization gives protection to all the living creatures

75-12-07.Rup             Letter: Rupanuga
Our cows are happy, therefore they give plenty of milk. Vedic civilization gives protection to all the living creatures, especially the cows, because they render such valuable service to the human society in the shape of milk, without which no one can become healthy and strong. In your country the dog is protected, and the cow is killed. The dog is passing stool and urine in the street, he is considered the best friend of man, and the cow is all pure, stool, urine, and milk, but they are taken to the slaughter house and killed for food. What kind of civilization is this. Therefore we have to preach against all this nonsense.

I have read your Cow Protection Report, and I am very much encouraged

72-02-13.Hay            Letter: Hayagriva
I have read your Cow Protection Report, and I am very much encouraged, especially by your proposal to supply our centers with ghee. This should be done, and you can take money. Now I wish to donate 5 cows, so kindly send me the cost of 5 cows and I will send you check.