quote of the day

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S.B.1.10

TRANSLATION

 

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.

 

PURPORT

 

The basic principle of economic development is centered on land and cows.

The necessities of human society are food grains, fruits, milk, minerals,

clothing, wood, etc. One requires all these items to fulfill the material

needs of the body. Certainly one does not require flesh and fish or iron

tools and machinery. During the regime of Maharaja Yudhisthira, all over

the world there were regulated rainfalls. Rainfalls are not in the control

of the human being. The heavenly King Indradeva is the controller of

rains, and he is the servant of the Lord. When the Lord is obeyed by the

king and the people under the king's administration, there are regulated

rains from the horizon, and these rains are the causes of all varieties of

production on the land. Not only do regulated rains help ample production

of grains and fruits, but when they combine with astronomical influences

there is ample production of valuable stones and pearls. Grains and

vegetables can sumptuously feed a man and animals, and a fatty cow

delivers enough milk to supply a man sumptuously with vigor and vitality.

If there is enough milk, enough grains, enough fruit, enough cotton,

enough silk and enough jewels, then why do the people need cinemas, houses

of prostitution, slaughterhouses, etc.? What is the need of an artificial

luxurious life of cinema, cars, radio, flesh and hotels? Has this

civilization produced anything but quarreling individually and nationally?

Has this civilization enhanced the cause of equality and fraternity by

sending thousands of men into a hellish factory and the war fields at the

whims of a particular man?

 

It is said here that the cows used to moisten the pasturing land with milk

because their milk bags were fatty and the animals were joyful. Do they

not require, therefore, proper protection for a joyful life by being fed

with a sufficient quantity of grass in the field? Why should men kill cows

for their selfish purposes? Why should man not be satisfied with grains,

fruits and milk, which, combined together, can produce hundreds and

thousands of palatable dishes. Why are there slaughterhouses all over the

world to kill innocent animals? Maharaja Pariksit, grandson of Maharaja

Yudhisthira, while touring his vast kingdom, saw a black man attempting to

kill a cow. The King at once arrested the butcher and chastised him

sufficiently. Should not a king or executive head protect the lives of the

poor animals who are unable to defend themselves? Is this humanity? Are

not the animals of a country citizens also? Then why are they allowed to

be butchered in organized slaughterhouses? Are these the signs of

equality, fraternity and nonviolence?

 

Therefore, in contrast with the modern, advanced, civilized form of

government, an autocracy like Maharaja Yudhisthira's is by far superior to

a so-called democracy in which animals are killed and a man less than an

animal is allowed to cast votes for another less-than-animal man.