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## Condemnation of the Person Who Preaches Violence and the So-Called Preaching
**Yoga Shastra, Second Light, Verses 31 to 35**
**Verse 31:**
**Translation:** "Control of the senses, worship of gods and gurus, charity, study of scriptures, and austerity - all these are useless and fruitless unless a person abandons violence."
**Explanation:** "As long as violence, whether rooted in peace or prevalent in family traditions, is not abandoned, even good deeds like control of the senses, worship of gods and gurus, giving charity to deserving recipients, studying religious scriptures, and performing rigorous austerities like Chandrayana, do not yield any good results like gaining merit or reducing sins. They all become futile. Therefore, violence committed for the sake of happiness and peace of meat-loving families or for upholding rigid family customs is prohibited."
**Verse 32:**
**Translation:** "Alas! Cruel and greedy preachers of the scriptures of violence, they trap these innocent, gullible believers in their web of words and lead them to the harsh land of hell."
**Explanation:** "Compassionate individuals never preach violence or create scriptures filled with violence. But it is a great pity that cruel and greedy preachers of violent scriptures, blinded by their desire for meat like Manu, lead innocent and devout people (by misleading or confusing them) to the depths of hell. Why are these preachers called blind to their greed? The answer is that they lack the pure vision of innate wisdom or the eye of association with wise individuals. It is said, 'One eye is innate wisdom, the other is association with wise individuals. In this world, whoever lacks these two eyes is truly blind, even if they have physical eyes. If such a person is inclined towards the wrong path, who is to blame? Only themselves!' Intelligent individuals should not be fooled by the sweet words of these deceivers and should use their wisdom to discern right from wrong."
**Verse 33:**
**Translation:** "Brahma created animals for the purpose of sacrifice. The sacrifice itself is for the welfare of the entire universe. Therefore, the violence that occurs in the sacrifice is not violence. It does not lead to sin."
**Explanation:** "When asked why there is no fault in the violence that occurs in a sacrifice, the answer is given: The death of the creature being sacrificed is a great benefit, or the loss of a son, wife, or wealth is a great benefit. The violence in a sacrifice is beneficial for those who die because it is different from the violence that arises from misfortune, the violence that arises from wrongdoing, and the violence that leads to the fruits of hell. Those who die from this violence do not experience the fruits of hell. Therefore, this violence is not harmful but beneficial."
**Verse 34:**
**Translation:** "Medicinal herbs, animals like goats, trees like the sacrificial post, animals like oxen, horses, and cows, and birds like sparrows and crows - when they are destroyed for the sake of sacrifice, they are not destroyed (dead) but attain higher births like gods and Gandharvas, or they attain long life in places like Uttarakuru."
**Verse 35:**
**Translation:** "Manu said that animals should be sacrificed only in Madhuparka, a type of ritual, in the Jyotishtoma sacrifice, and in rituals for the ancestors and gods, and not elsewhere."