Le Cow Quote Du Jour

[Guest guest]

Dear Prabhus:

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

It seems to me the Cow conference has been... well, rather inactive lately.

Wouldn't you agree it's time to inject a little life? I thought I would

attempt to contribute some relevant quotes on a daily basis and see if that

gets some conversation moooving. I'm thinking quotes that pertain to cows,

farming, self-sufficiency, etc. Let's see how long I can keep this up. Hare

Krsna. I hope this meets you in good health and I beg to remain,

 

Your servant,

Taraka dasa

 

How's this for starters?

 

TRANSLATION

Although the cow is beneficial because one can draw religious principles

from her, she was now rendered poor and calfless. Her legs were being beaten

by a sudra. There were tears in her eyes, and she was distressed and weak.

She was hankering after some grass in the field.

 

PURPORT

The next symptom of the age of Kali is the distressed condition of the cow.

Milking the cow means drawing the principles of religion in a liquid form.

The great rsis and munis would live only on milk. Srila Sukadeva Gosvami

would go to a householder while he was milking a cow, and he would simply

take a little quantity of it for subsistence. Even fifty years ago, no one

would deprive a sadhu of a quart or two of milk, and every householder would

give milk like water. For a Sanatanist (a follower of Vedic principles) it

is the duty of every householder to have cows and bulls as household

paraphernalia, not only for drinking milk, but also for deriving religious

principles. The Sanatanist worships cows on religious principles and

respects brahmanas. The cow's milk is required for the sacrificial fire, and

by performing sacrifices the householder can be happy. The cow's calf not

only is beautiful to look at, but also gives satisfaction to the cow, and so

she delivers as much milk as possible. But in the Kali-yuga, the calves are

separated from the cows as early as possible for purposes which may not be

mentioned in these pages of Srimad-Bhagavatam. The cow stands with tears in

her eyes, the sudra milkman draws milk from the cow artificially, and when

there is no milk the cow is sent to be slaughtered. These greatly sinful

acts are responsible for all the troubles in present society. People do not

know what they are doing in the name of economic development. The influence

of Kali will keep them in the darkness of ignorance. Despite all endeavors

for peace and prosperity, they must try to see the cows and the bulls happy

in all respects. Foolish people do not know how one earns happiness by

making the cows and bulls happy, but it is a fact by the law of nature. Let

us take it from the authority of Srimad-Bhagavatam and adopt the principles

for the total happiness of humanity.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.17.3