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Animal sacrifice performed in a yajna is cruel and bears the fruit of sin.
It is ordained in the Yoga Shastra, Second Light, verses 36 to 38; Pitru Shraddha Karma, in which Shraddha is performed for parents and other ancestors; and Daivat Karma, in which Maha Yajna and other rituals are performed for the Devas; in all these rituals, animal sacrifice should be performed, not in other activities. That is, the animal sacrifice ordained in these activities is not a sin; animal sacrifice elsewhere is a sin. || 35 ||
Thus Manu has said in the fifth chapter of Manusmriti.
|| 92 || Eshvarthshu Pashun Hinsan Vedatattvarthavidh Dwijah. Atmanam Cha Pashunshchaiva Gamayatyanuttamam Gatim || 36 ||
Meaning: The learned Brahmin who sacrifices animals for the aforementioned activities, knowing the true meaning of the Vedas, takes himself and the animals to the highest state (heaven, liberation, etc.). || 36 ||
Leaving aside the matter of performing the sacrifice, how can those who preach violence to others be justified? This is explained. || 93 || Ye Chakruh Krurakarmaanah Shastram Hinsopadeshakam. Kva Te Yasyanthi Narake, Nastikhebhyo'pi Nastikaah || 37 ||
Those who have composed scriptures (Manusmriti, etc.) that preach violence (inspiration) without themselves performing violence, appear to be cruel and merciless, but they are even greater atheists than atheists. It is not known which hell they will go to? || 37 ||
Meaning
Further it is said:
|| 94 || Varam Varaakashcharvaako, Yo'sau Prakatanastikah. Vedoktitaapasachchhadmachchhannam Raksho Na Jaiminih || 38 ||
Meaning: The poor Charvaka, who is known in the world as an atheist without any hypocrisy, is good; but Jaimini, a demon hidden in the guise of a tapasvi, who deceives people in the name of the Vedas by saying, "This is what the Vedas say," is not good. || 38 ||
Explanation:
• The poor Lokayatika or Charvaka, being free from hypocrisy, can be considered somewhat better than Jaimini. But Jaimini, who, under the guise of a tapasvi, openly prescribes the killing of living beings by presenting Vedic verses and thus deceives the people, is not good. His statement that "Brahma created animals for the sake of yajna" is mere wordplay; the truth is that all living beings are born in different auspicious and inauspicious wombs according to their own karma. Therefore, it is wrong to present the theory of creation by saying that one is born to give birth to another. "Perform yajna (which involves animal sacrifice) for the peace and well-being of all beings in the world"; this statement is also a fallacy or biased. "Vedic or Yajnik violence is not violence"; this statement is also ridiculous. The statement that the animals, medicines, etc., killed or destroyed for the sake of yajna attain a higher state, should be understood by those who have blind faith in it. One cannot attain a higher state simply by being killed for the sake of yajna without performing good deeds. And suppose that one attains a higher state simply by being killed for the sake of yajna, then why not kill one's parents in the yajna and send them to a higher state, or why not die in the yajna oneself and go to heaven immediately? Therefore, the poor innocent animal, as it were, pleads with the Yajnik: "Sir! I have no desire to go to heaven. I am not asking you for heaven or anything else. I am always content with eating grass and straw. Therefore, it is not right to kill me by showing me the lure of heaven. If those who are killed in the yajna really go to heaven, then why don't you kill your parents or other relatives in the yajna and send them to heaven?" Violence like Madhuparka, etc., is beneficial, others are not; this is the statement of a free-willed person. How can there be any difference between violence and violence, that one violence is beneficial and the other is harmful? Is there any difference between poison and poison? Therefore, virtuous souls should abandon all kinds of violence. As it is said in the Dashavaikalika Sutra (Jain Agam): All living beings want to live, no one wants to die. Therefore, the Nigranthamas abandon heinous acts like killing living beings. The statement that "yajna performed with animal sacrifice bestows a higher state on oneself and the animal" is something that only a very bold person would make. It may be that the one who is dying
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