Cow Quote #27

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Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7 Ch.2 text 12

 

TRANSLATION

Immediately go wherever there is good protection for the cows and brähmaëas

and wherever the Vedas are studied in terms of the varëäçrama principles.

Set fire to those places and cut from the roots the trees there, which are

the source of life.

PURPORT

The picture of a proper human civilization is indirectly described here. In

a perfect human civilization there must be a class of men fully trained as

perfect brähmaëas. Similarly, there must be kñatriyas to rule the country

very nicely according to the injunctions of the çästras, and there must be

vaiçyas who can protect the cows. The word gävaù indicates that cows should

be given protection. Because the Vedic civilization is lost, cows are not

protected, but instead indiscriminately killed in slaughterhouses. Such are

the acts of demons. Therefore this is a demoniac civilization. The

varëäçrama-dharma mentioned here is essential for human civilization. Unless

there is a brähmaëa to guide, a kñatriya to rule perfectly, and a perfect

vaiçya to produce food and protect the cows, how will people live

peacefully? It is impossible.

Another point is that trees also should be given protection. During its

lifetime, a tree should not be cut for industrial enterprises. In Kali-yuga,

trees are indiscriminately and unnecessarily cut for industry, in particular

for paper mills that manufacture a profuse quantity of paper for the

publication of demoniac propaganda, nonsensical literature, huge quantities

of newspapers and many other paper products. This is a sign of a demoniac

civilization. The cutting of trees is prohibited unless necessary for the

service of Lord Viñëu. Yajïärthät karmaëo'nyatra loko'yaà karma-bandhanaù:

[bg. 3.9]) "work done as a sacrifice for Lord Viñëu must be performed,

otherwise work binds one to this material world." But if the paper mills

stop producing paper, one may argue, how can our ISKCON literature be

published? The answer is that the paper mills should manufacture paper only

for the publication of ISKCON literature because ISKCON literature is

published for the service of Lord Viñëu. This literature clarifies our

relationship with Lord Viñëu, and therefore the publication of ISKCON

literature is the performance of yajïa. Yajïärthät karmaëo 'nyatra loko 'yaà

karma-bandhanaù [bg. 3.9]). Yajïa must be performed, as indicated by the

superior authorities. The cutting of trees simply to manufacture paper for

the publication of unwanted literature is the greatest sinful act.