युधिष्ठिर उवाच अहिंसा परमो धर्म इत्युक्तं बहुशस्त्वया। जातो नः संशयो धर्मे मांसस्य परिवर्जने। दोषो भक्षयतः कः स्यात् कश्चाभक्षयतो गुणः॥
Yudhishthira said You have told it many times that abstention from injury is the highest Religion. In Shraddhas, however, that are performed in honour of the departed Manes, persons for their own behoof, should make offerings of various kinds of meat. A doubt has, therefore, sprung in our mind about the duty of abstaining from meat. What are the sins that one commits by eating meat, and what are the merits that one acquires?
हत्वा भक्षयतो वापि परेणोपहतस्य वा। हन्याद् वा यः परस्यार्थं क्रीत्वा वा भक्षयेन्नरः॥
You have said SO So while discoursing formerly upon the ordinances about Shraddhas. How can meat, however, be procured without killing a living creature? Your declarations, therefore, appear to me to be contradictory.
एतदिच्छामि तत्त्वेन कथ्यमानं त्वयानघ। निश्चयेन चिकीर्षामि धर्ममेतं सनातनम्॥
What are the demerits of him who eats meat by himself slaying a living creature? What are the merits of him who eats the meat of animals, slain by others? What the merits or demerits of hini who kills a living creature for another? Or of him who eats meat buying it of others? I wish, O sinless one, that you should describe to me this subject in full. I wish to ascertain this eternal Religion with certainty.
कथमायुरवाप्नोति कथं भवति सत्त्ववान्। कथमव्यङ्गतामेति लक्षण्यो जायते कथम्॥
How does one acquire longevity? How does onc acquire strength? How does one acquire faultlessness of limbs? Indeed, how does one become gifted with excellent marks?
भीष्म उवाच मांसस्याभक्षणाद् राजन् यो धर्मः कुरुनन्दन। तन्मे शृणु यथातत्त्वं यथास्य विधिरुत्तमः॥
Bhishma said Listen to me, O scion of Kuru's race, what the merit is of abstention from meat. Listen to me as I declare to you what the excellent ordinances, in sooth, are on this subject.
रूपमव्यङ्गतामायुर्बुद्धिं सत्त्वं बलं स्मृतिम्। प्राप्तुकामैनरैहिंसा वर्जिता वै महात्मभिः॥
Those great inen who desire beauty, faultessness of limbs, long life, understanding mental and physical strength, and memory should abstain from acts of injury.
ऋषीणामत्र संवादो बहुशः कुरुनन्दन। बभूव तेषां तु मतं यत् तच्छृणु युधिष्ठिर।॥
Numberless discourses took place. between the Rishis on this subject, O scion of Kuru's race. Listen, O Yudhishthira, what their opinion was.
यो यजेताश्वमेधेन मासि मासि यतव्रतः। वर्जयेन्मधु मांसं च सममेतद् युधिष्ठिर॥
The merit acquired by that person, O Yudhishthira, who, with the steadiness of a vow, worship the celestials every month in Horse sacrifices, is equal to him who discards honey and meat.
सप्तर्षयो वालखिल्यास्तथैव च मरीचिपाः। अमांसभक्षणं राजन् प्रशंसन्ति मनीषिणः॥
The highly wise seven celestial Rishis, the Valakhillyas, and those Rishi, who drink the rays of the sun, all speak highly of abstention from ineat.
न भक्षयति यो मांसं न च हन्यान्न घातयेत्। तन्मित्रं सर्वभूतानां मनुः स्वायम्भुवोऽब्रवीत्॥
The self-create Manu has said that man who does not eat meat, or who does not kill living creatures, or who does not cause them to be killed, is a friend of all creatures.
अधृष्यः सर्वभूतानां विश्वास्यः सर्वजन्तुषु। साधूनां सम्मतो नित्यं भवेन्मांसं विवर्जयन्॥
Such a man is incapable of being oppressed by any creature. He enjoys the confidence of all living beings. He always enjoys, besides, the praise of the pious.
स्वमांसं परमांसेन यो वर्धयितुमिच्छति। नारदः प्राह धर्मात्मा नियतं सोऽवसीदति॥
The virtuous Narada has said that that man who wishes to multiply his own flesh by eating the flesh of other creatures, meet with disaster.
ददाति यजते चापि तपस्वी च भवत्यपि। मधुमांसनिवृत्त्येति प्राहु चैवं बृहस्पतिः॥
Brihaspati has said that that man who abstains from honey and meat, gains the merit of gifts and sacrifices and penances.
मासि मास्यश्वमेधेन यो यजेत शतं समाः। न खादति च यो मांसं सममेतन्मतं मम॥
In my view, these two persons are equal viz.hc who worships the celestials every month in a Horse-sacrifice for a century and he who abstains from honey and meat.
सदा यजति सत्रेण सदा दानं प्रयच्छति। सदा तपस्वी भवति मधुमांसविवर्जनात्॥
On account of abstention from meat, one is considered as one who always worships the celestials in sacrifices, or as one who always makes gifts to others, or as one who always practises the severest austerities.
सर्वे वेदा न तत् कुर्युः सर्वे यज्ञाश्च भारत। यो भक्षयित्वा मांसानि पश्चादपि निवर्तते॥
That inan who having eaten meal, gives it up afterwards, wins merit by such a deed that is so great that a study of all the Vedas or a performance, O Bharata, of all the sacrifices, cannot give its like.
दुष्करं च रसज्ञाने मांसस्य परिवर्जनम्। चर्तुं व्रतमिदं श्रेष्ठं सर्वप्राण्यभयप्रदम्॥
It is very difficult to abstain from meat after one has known itstaste. Indeed, it is extremely difficult for such a person to observe the great vow abstention from meat, a vow that assures every creature by removing all fear.
सर्वभूतेषु यो विद्वान् ददात्यभयदक्षिणाम्। दाता भवति लोके स प्राणानां नात्र संशयः॥
That learned person who gives to all living creatures the gift of complete assurance, is forsooth, regarded as the giver of lifc-breaths in this world.
एवं वै परमं धर्मे प्रशंसन्ति मनीषिणः। प्राणा यथाऽऽत्मनोऽभीष्टा भूतानामपि वै तथा॥
This is the high Religion which wise men esteem very highly. The vital airs of other creatures are as dear to them as those of his own self.
आत्मौपम्येन मन्तव्यं बुद्धिमद्भिः कृतात्मभिः। मृत्युतो भयमस्तीति विदुषां भूतिमिच्छताम्॥
Men gifted with intelligence and purified souls should always treat others as they theinselves wish to be treated. It is seen that even those men who are endued with learning and who seek to acquire the greatest good in the shape of Liberation, are not free from of the fear of death.
किं पुनर्हन्यमानानां तरसा जीवितार्थिनाम्। अरोगाणामपापानां पापैराँसोपजीविभिः॥
What necessity there be said those innocent and healthy creatures gifted with love of life, when they are sought to be killed by sinful wretches living by slaughter?
तस्माद् विद्धि महाराज मांसस्य परिवर्जनम्। धर्मस्यायतनं श्रेष्ठं स्वर्गस्य च सुखस्य च॥
Therefore, O king, know that the discarding of meat is the highest refuge of Religion, of the celestial region, and of happiness.
अहिंसा परमो धर्मस्तथाहिंसा परं तपः। अहिंसा परमं सत्यं यतो धर्मः प्रवर्तते।॥
Abstention from injury is the highest Religion. It is, again, the highest penance. It is also the highest truth from which all duty emanates.
न हि मांसं तृणात् काष्ठादुपलाद् वापि जायते। हत्वा जन्तुं ततो मांसं तस्माद् दोषस्तु भक्षणे॥
Flesh cannot be had from grass or wood or stone. Unless a living creature is killed it cannot be procured. Hence is the fault in eating flesh.
स्वाहास्वधामृतभुजो देवाः सत्यार्जवप्रियाः। क्रव्यादान् राक्षसान् विद्धि जिह्मानृत परायणान्।।२५।
The celestials, who live upon Svaha, Svadha, and nectar, are given to truth and sincerity. Those persons, however, who are for satisfying the sensation of taste, should be known as Rakshasas pervaded by the quality of Darkness.
कान्तारेप्वथ घोरेषु दुर्गेषु गहनेषु च। रात्रावहनि संध्यासु चत्वरेषु सभासु च॥ उद्यतेषु च शस्त्रेषु मृगव्यालभयेषु च। अमांसभक्षणे राजन् भयमन्यैर्न गच्छति॥
That man who abstains from meat, is never put in fear, O king, by any creature, wherever hic may be, viz., in terrible forest or inaccessible fastnesses, by day or by night, or at the two twilight's, in the open squares of towns or in conclaves of men, from upraised weapons or in places where there is great fright from wild animals or snakes.
शरण्यः सर्वभूतानां विश्वास्यः सर्वजन्तुषु। अनुद्वेगकरो लोके च चाप्युद्विजते सदा॥
All creatures seek his protection. He is trusted by all. He never causes any anxiety in others, and himself has never to become anxious,
यदि चेत् खादको न स्यान्न तदा घातको भवेत्। घातकः खादकार्थाय तद् घातयति वै नरः॥
If there were nobody who ate flesh there would then be nobody to slay living creatures. The man who slays living creatures kills them for the sake of the person who eats flesh.
अभक्ष्यमेतदिति वै इति हिंसा निवर्तते। खादकार्थमतो हिंसा मृगादीनां प्रवर्तते॥
If flesh were not considered as food, there would then be no destruction of living creatures. It is for the sake of the eater that the destruction of living creatures is carried on in the world.
यस्माद् प्रसति चैवायुर्हिसकानां महाद्युते। तस्माद् विवजयेन्मांसं य इच्छेद् भूतिमात्मनः॥
Since, O you of great splendour, the period of life is shortened of persons who kills living creatures or cause them to be killed, it is clear that the person who seeks his own, behoof, I should give up meat altogether.
त्रातारं नाधिगच्छन्ति रौद्राः प्राणिविहिंसकाः। उद्वेजनीया भूतानां यथा व्यालमृगास्तथा॥
Those dreadful persons who are engaged in the destruction of living creatures never find protectors when they are in need. Such persons should always be molested and punished even as beasts of prey.
लोभाद् वा बुद्धिमोहाद् वा बलवीर्यार्थमेव च। संसर्गादथ पापानामधर्मरुचिता नृणाम्॥
Through cupidity or stupefaction of sense, for the sake of strength and energy, or through association with the sinful, men show tendency for committing sin.
स्वमांसं परमांसेन यो वर्धयितुमिच्छति। उद्विग्नवासो वसति यत्र यत्राभिजायते॥
That man who seeks to multiply his own flesh by (eating) the flesh of others has to live in this world in great anxiety and after death has to take birth in indifferent races and families.
धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं स्वर्ये स्वस्त्ययनं महत्। मांसस्याभक्षणं प्राहुर्नियताः परमर्षयः॥
High Rishis given to the observance of vows and self control have said that abstention from meat is worthy of praise, productive of fame and Heaven and a great satisfaction itself.
इदं तु खलु कौन्तेय श्रुतमासीत् पुरा मया। मार्कण्डेयस्य वदतो ये दोषा मांसभक्षणे॥
This I heard forinerly, O son of Kunti, from Markandeya when that Rishi discoursed on the sins of eating flesh.
यो हि खादति मांसानि प्राणिनां जीवितैषिणाम्। हतानां वा मृतानां वा यथा हन्ता तथैव सः॥
He who eats the flesh of animals are who desirous of living but who have been slain by either himself or others, commits the sin of slaughter for his this act of cruelty.
धनेन क्रयिको हन्ति खादचोपभोगतः। घातको वधबन्धाभ्यामित्येष त्रिविधो वधः॥
He who purchases flesh, kills living crcatures through his money. He who eats flesh, kills living creatures through such act of caling. He who binds or seizes and actually kilis living creatures, is the slaughterer. These are the three sorts of slaughter, each of these three acts being so.
अखादन्ननुमोदंश्च भावदोषेण मानवः। योऽनुमोदति हन्यन्तं सोऽपि दोषेण लिप्यते॥
He who does not himself eat flesh but approves of an act of slaughter, becomes stained with the sin of slaughter.
अधृष्यः सर्वभूतानामायुष्मान् निरुजः सदा। भवत्यभक्षयन् मांसं दयावान् प्राणिनामिह॥
By abstaining from meat and showing mercy to all creatures one becomes incapable of being molested by any creature, and acquires longevity perfect health and happiness.
हिरण्यदानैर्गोदानैर्भूमिदानैश्च सर्वशः। मांसस्याभक्षणे धर्मो विशिष्ट इति नः श्रुतिः॥
The merit won by abstaining from meat, we have heard is superior to that of one who makes presents of gold, of kine, and of land.
खादकस्य कृते जन्तून् यो हन्यात् पुरुषाधमः। महादोषतरस्तत्र घातको न तु खादकः॥
If ong cats the meat that has been sanctified on account of its having been procured from animals dedicated in sacrifices and that have been killed for the purpose of feeding Brahmanas, one incurs a little fault. By behaving otherwise, one becomes stained with sin. That wretched man who kills living creatures for the sake of those who would eat them commits great sin. The eater's sin is not so great.
इज्यायज्ञश्रुतिकृतैर्यो मागैरबुधोऽधमः। हन्याज्जन्तून् मांसगृध्नुः स वै नरकभाड्नरः॥
That wretched man who following the path of religious rites and sacrifices laid down in the Vedas, would kill a living creature from desire of eating its flesh, would certainly go to Hell. One should never eat meat of animals not dedicated in sacrifices and that are, therefore, killed uselessly, and that has not been offered to the gods and departed Manes with the help of the ordinances. There is not the least doubt that a person by eating such meat goes to Hell.
भक्षयित्वापि यो मांसं पश्चादपि निवर्तते। तस्यापि सुमहान् धर्मो यः पापाद् विनिवर्तते॥
That man who having eaten flesh abstains from it afterwards acquires great merit on account of such abstention from sin.
आहर्ता चानुमन्ता च विशस्ता क्रयविक्रयी। संस्कर्ता चापभोक्ता च खादकाः सर्व एव ते॥
He who arranges for obtaining flesh, he who approves of those arrangements, he who kills, he who, buys or sells, he who cooks, and he who eats, are all considered as caters of flesh.
इदमन्यत्तु वक्ष्यामि प्रमाणं विधिनिर्मितम्। पुराणमृषिभिर्जुष्टं वेदेषु परिनिष्ठितम्॥
I shall now cite another authority, depending upon the saying of the ordainer himself, that is ancient, worshipped by the Rishis, and established in the Vedas.
प्रवृत्तिलक्षणो धर्मः प्रजार्थिभिरुदाहृतः। यथोक्तं राजशार्दूल न तु तन्मोक्षकाक्षिणाम्॥
It has been said that religion which has acts for its marks, has been ordained for householders O chief of kings, and not for those men who are desirous of Liberation.
य इच्छेत् पुरुषोऽत्यन्तमात्मानं निरुपद्रवम्। स वर्जयेत मांसानि प्राणिनामिह सर्वशः॥
That man who wishes to avoid disaster should abstain from the meat of every living creature.
श्रूयते हि पुरा कल्पे नृणां व्रीहिपयः पशुः। येनायजन्त यज्वानः पुण्यलोकपरायणाः॥
It is heard that in the former Aeon persons, desirous of acquiring regions of merit hereafter, celebrated sacrifices with seeds, regarding such animals as dedicated by them.
ऋषिभिः संशयं पृष्टो वसुश्चेदिपतिः पुरा। अभक्ष्यमपि मांसं यः प्राह भक्ष्यमिति प्रभा॥
Doubtful about the propriety of eating flesh, the Rishis asked Vasu the king of the Chedis, for removing their doubt. King Vasu, knowing that flesh should not be taken, answered that it was edible, O king.
आकाशादवनि प्राप्तस्ततः स पृथिवीपतिः। एतदेव पुनश्चोक्त्वा विवेश धरणीतलम्॥
From that moment Vasu dropped down from the sky on the Earth. After this he once more repeated his opinion, with the result that he had to go down below the earth for it.
इदं तु शृणु राजेन्द्र कीर्त्यमानं मयानध। अभक्षणे सर्वसुखं मांसस्य मनुजाधिप॥
Listen to me, O king of kings, as I tell you this, O sinless one, There is absolute happiness ! in abstaining from meat, O king.
यस्तु वर्षशतं पूर्णे तपस्तप्येत सुदारुणम्। यश्चैव वर्जयेन्मांसं सममेतन्मतं मम॥
He who practises severe austerities for a century, and he who abstains from ineat, are both equally meritorious. This is my opinion.
कौमुदे तु विशेषेण शुक्लपक्षे नराधिप। वर्जयेन्मधुमांसानि धर्मो ह्यत्र विधीयते॥
In the light half of the month of Kartika in especial, one should abstain from honey and mcat. It has been ordained, that there is great merit in it.
चतुरो वार्षिकान् मासान् यो मांसं परिवर्जयेत्। चत्वारि भद्राण्यवाप्नोति कीर्तिमायुर्यशोबलम्॥
He who abstains from meat for the four months of the rainy season, acquires the blessed achievements, viz., longevity, fame and power.
अथवा मासमेकं वै सर्व मांसान्यभक्षयन्। अतीत्य सर्वदुःखानि सुखं जीवेन्निरामयः॥
He who abstains for the whole month of Kartika from meat of every kind, gets over all sorts of woe and lives in complete happiness.
वर्जयन्ति हि मांसानि मासश: पक्षशोऽपि वा। तेषां हिंसानिवृत्तानां ब्रह्मलोको विधीयते॥
They who abstain from flesh by either months or fortnights, have the region of Brahma ordained for them on account of their abstention from cruelty.
मांसं तु कौमुदं पक्षं वर्जितं पार्थ राजभिः। सर्वभूतात्मभूतस्थैर्विदितार्थपरावरैः॥
Formerly many kings, O son of Pritha who had forined themselves the souls of all creatures and who has known the truths of all things viz., Soul and Not Soul, had abstained from flesh either for the whole of the month of Kartika or for the whole of the light fortnight in that month.
नाभागेनाम्बरीषेण गयेन च महात्मना। आयुनाथानरण्येन दिलीपरघुपूरुभिः॥ कीर्तवीर्यानिरुद्धाभ्यां नहुषेण ययातिना। नृगेण विष्वगश्वेन तथैव शशबिन्दुना॥ युवनाश्वेन च तथा शिबिनौशीनरेण च। मुचुकुन्देन मान्धात्रा हरिश्चन्द्रेण वा विभो॥
They were Nabhaga, Ambarisha, the great Gaya, Ayu Anaranya, and Dilipa, Raghu, Pura, Kartavirya, Aniruddha, Nahusha, Yayati, Nriga, Vishvaksena, Shasabindu, Yunanashva, Shibi the son of Ushinara, Muchukunda, Mandhatri, and Harishchandra.
सत्यं वदत मासत्यं सत्यं धर्म: सनातनः। हरिश्चन्द्रश्चरति वै दिवि सत्येन चन्द्रवत्॥
Do you always speak the truth. Never speak an untruth. Truth is an cternal duty. It is by truth that Harishchandra roves through the sky like a second Moon.
श्येनचित्रेण राजेन्द्र सोमकेन वृकेण च। रैवते रन्तिदेवेन बसुना सृञ्जयेन च॥ एतैश्चान्यैश्च राजेन्द्र कृपेण भरतेन च। दुष्यन्तेन करूषेण रामालर्कनरैस्तथा॥ विरूपाश्वेन निमिना जनकेन च धीमता। ऐलेन पृथुना चैव वीरसेनेन चैव ह॥ इक्ष्वाकुणा शम्भुना च श्वेतेन सगरेण च। अजेन धुन्धुना चैव तथैव च सुबाहुना॥ हर्यश्वेन च राजेन्द्र क्षुपेण भरतेन च। एतैश्चान्यैश्च राजेन्द्र पुरा मांसं न भक्षितम्॥ ब्रह्मलोके च तिष्ठन्ति ज्वलमानाः श्रियान्विताः। उपास्यमाना गन्धर्वैः स्त्रीसहस्रसमन्विताः॥
These other kings also viz.,. Shyenchitra, O monarch, and Somaka, Vrika Raivata, Rantideva, Vasu, Srinjaya, Dushmanta, Karushma, Rama, Alarka, Nala, Virupashva, Nimi, intelligent Janaka, Aila, Prithu, Virasena, Ikshvaku, Shambhu, Shveta, Sagara Aja, Dhundhu, Subahu, Haryashva, Kashypa and Bharata, O monarch, did not eat flesh for the month of Kartika and therefore attained to the celestial region and gifted with prosperity, blaze forth with effulgence in the region of Brahmana, worshipped by Gandharvas and surrounded by a thousand beautiful ladies.
तदेतदुत्तमं धर्ममहिंसाधर्मलक्षणम्। ये चरन्ति महात्मानो नाकपृष्ठे वसन्ति ते॥
Those great men who practise this excellent Religion which is marked out by abstention from injury, succeed in living in the celestial region.
मधु मांसं च ये नित्यं वर्जयन्तीह धार्मिकाः। जन्मप्रभृति मद्यं च सर्वे ते मुनयः स्मृताः॥
Those pious inen who from the time of birth abstain from honey and meat and wine are considered as ascetics.
इमं धर्मममांसादं यश्चरेच्छावयीत वा। अपि चेत् सुदुराचारो न जातु निरयं व्रजेत्॥
That man who practises this religion consisting of abstention from meat or who recites it for making others hear it, will never have to go to Hell even if he be a great wicked man.
पठेद् वा य इदं राजञ्छृणुयाद् वाप्यभीक्ष्णशः। अमांसभक्षणविधि पवित्रमृषिपूजितम्॥ विमुक्तः सर्वपापेभ्यः सर्वकामैर्महीयते। विशिष्टतां ज्ञातिषु च लभते नात्र संशयः॥
He, O king, who always reads these ordinances about abstention from meat, that are sacred and worshipped by the Rishis or hears it read becomes purged off of every sin and acquire a great happiness on account of the fruition of every desire. Forsooth, he acquires an eminent position among kinsmen.
आपनश्चापदो मुच्येद् बद्धो मुच्येत बन्धनात्। मुच्येत्तथाऽऽतुरो रोगाद् दुःखान्मुच्येत दुःखितः।।७४
When afflicted with calanity, he immediately gets over it. When obstructed with obstacles, he succeeds in freeing himself from them with the utmost case. When suffering from a disease, he becomes quickly cured, and afflicted with sorrow he becomes liberated from it with greatest ease.
तिर्यग्योनि न गच्छेत रूपवांश्च भवेन्नरः। ऋद्धिमान् वै कुरुश्रेष्ठ प्राप्नुयाच्च महद् यशः॥
Such a man has never to take birth in the intermediate order of animals or birds. Born in the order of men, he attains to great personal beauty. Gifted with great prosperity, O chief of Kuru's race, he acquires great fame as well.
एतत्ते कथितं राजन् मांसस्य परिवर्जने। प्रवृत्तौ च निवृत्तौ च विधानमृषिनिर्मितम्॥
I have thus told you, O king, all that should be said about the subject of abstention from meat, together with the ordinances about both the religion of action and inaction as framed by the Rishis.