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Honey produced from violence, i.e., honey collected from beehives, is also to be discarded, as it is the excreta of bees.
According to Yoga Shastra, the third light, verses 34 to 37, there is no greater sinner than one who eats the flesh of animals. Born from the semen of a male and the blood (menstrual fluid) of a female, nourished by the juice of excrement, who but a worm can eat flesh that is coagulated blood? It is astonishing that the twice-born Brahmins preach the religion of purity, yet they eat flesh, which is born of seven impurities (tissues) and is unclean. For those who consider the flesh of grass-eating animals to be the same as grain, poison that brings death and nectar that gives life are both equal. Those who are ignorant and have a dull soul believe that just as rice is a part of a one-sensed being, so too is flesh a part of a living being, and therefore, good men should eat flesh like rice. Then why do they not drink the urine of a cow, which is like the milk produced by the cow? Rice, etc., do not contain flesh, blood, fat, etc., which are inedible substances, whereas flesh contains all these inedible substances. Therefore, rice, etc., are edible, while flesh, etc., are inedible. Just as a holy conch shell and the bone of a living being are not considered the same, so too are rice, etc., not considered inedible. The sinner who says that all limbs are the same, and therefore considers flesh and rice to be the same, why does he not think that all women are the same, and therefore treat his mother and wife equally? Just as it is said that going to hell is the result of killing even one five-sensed being or eating its flesh, it is not said that going to hell is the result of eating grain, etc. (one-sensed). Flesh, which corrupts the juice and blood, cannot be food. Therefore, one who does not eat flesh and is a grain eater cannot be a sinner. The killing of one-sensed beings occurs in the cooking of grain, which is not so much of an obstacle in the vow of country-renunciation. Even householders who are lovers of the high Jain religion, who are content with grain food, considering the conduct of meat-eaters, obtain high-level divine wealth. ||33||
Now, in passing, we will point out the fault in eating ghee (butter). ||205|| After the end of the internal muhurta, a multitude of extremely subtle beings are born in it. Wise men should not eat ghee where they faint. ||34|| Meaning: Wise men should not eat ghee where a multitude of extremely subtle beings are born in it after the end of the internal muhurta. ||34|| We consider this point. ||206|| What is the sin in killing even one living being? It is difficult to say. Then who can consume ghee, which is made up of the bodies of many beings? ||35|| Meaning: What is the sin in killing even one living being? It is difficult to say. Then who can consume ghee, which is made up of the bodies of many beings? ||35|| Now, we will point out the fault in eating honey. ||207|| Who, being wise, will lick honey, which is born from the destruction of a multitude of beings, and is as disgusting as saliva dripping from the mouth? ||36|| Meaning: Who, being wise, will lick honey, which is born from the destruction of a multitude of beings, and is as disgusting as saliva dripping from the mouth? By implication, here we should also understand the honey of bumblebees, etc. ||36|| Now, we will condemn the honey-eater. ||208|| One who eats honey, which is born from the destruction of millions of tiny beings, is more sinful than a butcher who kills a few animals. ||37|| Meaning: Beings that do not have bones are called tiny beings, or even insignificant beings are considered tiny. One who eats honey, which is born from the destruction of millions of tiny beings (due to smoking), is more sinful than a butcher who kills a few animals. The eater is also deadly like the producer, this has been said before. ||37|| False food is to be discarded, this is also said in worldly scriptures. From this point of view, honey is also to be discarded like excrement, as it is the excreta of bees. This is what is being said. ||197||