Le Cow Quote Du Jour # 92

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TRANSLATION

O chaste one, the king's good name, duration of life and good rebirth vanish

when all kinds of living beings are terrified by miscreants in his kingdom.

It is certainly the prime duty of the king to subdue first the sufferings of

those who suffer. Therefore I must kill this most wretched man because he is

violent against other living beings.

 

PURPORT

When there is some disturbance caused by wild animals in a village or town,

the police or others take action to kill them. Similarly, it is the duty of

the government to kill at once all bad social elements such as thieves,

dacoits and murderers. The same punishment is also due to animal-killers

because the animals of the state are also the praja. Praja means one who has

taken birth in the state, and this includes both men and animals. Any living

being who takes birth in a state has the primary right to live under the

protection of the king. The jungle animals are also subject to the king, and

they also have a right to live. So what to speak of domestic animals like the

cows and bulls.

 

Any living being, if he terrifies other living beings, is a most wretched

subject, and the king should at once kill such a disturbing element. As the

wild animal is killed when it creates disturbances, similarly any man who

unnecessarily kills or terrifies the jungle animals or other animals must be

punished at once. By the law of the Supreme Lord, all living beings, in

whatever shape they may be, are the sons of the Lord, and no one has any

right to kill another animal, unless it is so ordered by the codes of natural

law. The tiger can kill a lower animal for his subsistence, but a man cannot

kill an animal for his subsistence. That is the law of God, who has created

the law that a living being subsists by eating another living being. Thus the

vegetarians are also living by eating other living beings. Therefore, the law

is that one should live only by eating specific living beings, as ordained by

the law of God. The Isopanisad directs that one should live by the direction

of the Lord and not at one's sweet will. A man can subsist on varieties of

grains, fruits and milk ordained by God, and there is no need of animal food,

save and except in particular cases.

 

The illusioned king or executive head, even though sometimes advertised as a

great philosopher and learned scholar, will allow slaughterhouses in the

state without knowing that torturing poor animals clears the way to hell for

such foolish kings or executive heads. The executive head must always be

alert to the safety of the prajas, both man and animal, and inquire whether a

particular living being is harassed at any place by another living being. The

harassing living being must at once be caught and put to death, as shown by

Maharaja Pariksit.

 

The people's government, or government by the people, should not allow

killing of innocent animals by the sweet will of foolish government men. They

must know the codes of God, as mentioned in the revealed scriptures. Maharaja

Pariksit quotes here that according to the codes of God the irresponsible

king or state executive jeopardizes his good name, duration of life, power

and strength and ultimately his progressive march towards a better life and

salvation after death. Such foolish men do not even believe in the existence

of a next life.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.17.10, SB 1.17.11, SB 1.17.10-11