Protect A Cow

Cow protection that is our duty. And economically also, it is very useful

740611r2.par              Conversations
Prabhupada: More cows. Yes. They'll have more cows. Simply we request that "Don't..." You propagate this. "Don't kill, don't maintain the slaughterhouse." It's very sinful. It has got very awkward reaction on the society. Stop this slaughterhouse. We don't say that you stop eating meat. You eat meat, but don't take it from slaughterhouse. Or don't by killing. Simply wait, and you'll get the... How long the cow will live? Their maximum age is twenty years. So not that you have to wait for twenty years. There are many cows, eighteen years, sixteen years or ten years. So wait for that much time. Then you regularly get dead cows and eat. What is the wrong? You make this propaganda. You may, for few years, may not get. By that time, you can eat some dogs and cats. (laughter) Yes. The Koreans, they are using dogs. Where is the difference between you and the Korean? You can eat also dogs for the time being. Or hogs. You eat hogs. We don't prohibit killing of these small animals. We don't sanction, neither prohibit. But especially we request cow protection because it is ordered by Krsna. Because we are Krsna conscious people, therefore we have to carry out the order of Krsna, go-raksya. That is our duty. And economically also, it is very useful. Krsna has recommended for nothing, it is not like that. It has some meaning, that if you have got cows. You see.

The cow is so wonderful and valuable in society

74-01-07.Kir Letter                                                                                                                                                     I was very pleased to hear your report of our cow protection program, and I had part of your letter read aloud to a group of devotees how you have one cow who will be giving 70-80 pounds a day. The cow is so wonderful and valuable in society. But you should also use the bulls by engaging them in tilling the ground. People may call this the primitive way but it is very practical for engaging the bulls--have them work in cart loading, transporting, etc.

Blindly go on committing criminal activities under a nice dress, and nice motorcar, that is not civilization

730909SB.STO                 Lectures

Therefore, those who are actually civilized, they are called Aryans, arya, Aryans, advanced. Advanced in knowledge how to live, what is the purpose of life, what is goal of life, how to live, how to become peaceful, how to become, everything. That is civilization. And nunam pramattah kurute vikarma, and blindly go on committing criminal activities under a nice dress, and nice motorcar, that is not civilization. Adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram. They are going to hell under the good dress and good road. They are going to hell. Because they could not control the senses. So don't become victims of this civilization. Try to understand. Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma. And what is the purpose? Yad indriya-pritaye. The same thing. Indriya-pritaye means satisfying the senses. So that already explained, that sense gratification process is already there in the animals. The hogs and dogs, they are also busy in sense gratification. Then why, why you are calling yourself civilized than these cats and dogs? They are also eating meat, just like tiger. And because you can cook it very nicely with spices, you become civilized? But they have taken, "No, we can cook very nicely." Because in the flesh, there is no taste. So it has to be added with garlic, it has to be added with onion, and somehow or other... Then it becomes little palatable. Otherwise, what is the taste of this dead flesh? Suppose if you... But those who are after this blood, they find taste. So that is tigers' and dogs' and cats' civilization; that is not human civilization; that is not human civilization.

If in human society these two things are neglected, cows and the brahmana, that is animal society

690913SB.LON    Lectures
Prabhupada: Cheese also. Cheese is milk preparation. You can eat. And offer it to Krsna, that "Krsna, these things are supplied by You. Kindly You taste it, then I'll take." You can do that everywhere. Krsna is everywhere. At least we should acknowledge that everything is sent by Krsna, or God. That is a fact. Krsna's laws or nature's law is so nice that a cow is eating grass and producing milk. Now, if you think that grass is the cause of milk, then you are mistaken. It is the laws of Krsna that transforms grass into milk. If you eat..., you eat grass, then you'll die. But the cow, she is eating grass... That also not supplied by your factory. The grass is produced by nature's way. And she is eating that grass and supplying the most nutritious food--milk--and in exchange you are cutting throat. How you can be happy? Such an innocent animal. She is eating grass supplied by God, and instead of grass, if you think that "She is eating grass from the land, American land or my land. She must give me something," she's supplying milk. What reason there is?
   So if we human beings, if we forget even ordinary mercy, compassion and gratefulness, then what is that human life? And then from national point of view... National means one who is born in this land. The cow is also born in this land. So why the man should be given protection, not the cow? But according to Vedic civilization you see. You have read in Srimad-Bhagavatam, I explained. Oh, one man was going to kill one cow. Immediately Maharaja Pariksit took his sword, "Oh, you are trying to kill cow in my kingdom? I shall immediately kill you." The special protection, brahmanas and cow. You know, we offer Krsna obeisances, namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmana-hitaya ca: "Krsna, You are the leader of brahminical civilization." The purest civilization. Namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmana-hitaya ca. "You are the well-wisher of cows and the brahmanas." Why special stress is given to the words go and brahmana, cows and brahmanas? Then he said, jagad-dhitaya. "After being, first being well-wisher to the cows and brahmanas, then You are well-wisher of this general world." Jagad-dhitaya krsnaya govindaya namo namah. This is the prayer, namo brahmanya-devaya.
   So why this specific stress has been given to the cows and brahmanas? Just see Krsna's picture, how He's loving the cow. You see? He is instructing by His practical life how He is compassionate with the cows. He played as a cowherd boy. Why? Because if in human society these two things are neglected, cows and the brahmana, that is animal society. Animal society. That is not human society. That is the idea. Because the brahmanas, they will give you good information of spiritual life, and cows will give you the best food you can have within this material world. That is the real interpretation of go-brahmana-hitaya ca. If you have simply a cow and... The great sages, just see. A child born, it lives simply on cow's milk. First of all, mother's milk. Milk for six months. Then when it is a little grown up, you simply give her sufficient milk, oh, she'll be very stout and strong. Then supply it little grains, fruits. That's all.
   So we have got many foodstuff in the vegetarian kingdom, and Krsna asks you that patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati: "Anyone who is offering Me..." This is universal. Patram means a leaf. Just like a leaf. Puspam, a flower. And patram puspam phalam. Phalam means a fruit. And toyam means water. So any poor man can offer Krsna. There is no need of, I mean to say, luxuriant foodstuff, but it is meant for the poorest man. The poorest of the poor men can secure these four things--a little leaf, a little flower, a little fruit, and little water. Any part of the world. Therefore He is prescribing, patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati: "Anyone who offers Me with love and devotion..." Tad aham bhakty-upahrtam. "Because it is brought to Me with love and devotion," asn ami, "I eat." Krsna is not hungry, neither He is poor. But the main thing is bhaktya, devotion and love. So whatever you offer Krsna with devotion and love within this group as prescribed by Him, Krsna accepts it. So you can offer anywhere. It does not matter that you have to offer in temple. Krsna is everywhere. So you offer and eat that. This cauliflower is also flower. This is also flower. (chuckles) And potato is fruit. Fruit, flower. Yes.