Text 26] Maharaja Prthu Becomes Angry at the Earth 685
TRANSLATION

Now, with the help of my arrows, I shall cut you to pieces and with
your flesh satisfy the hunger-stricken citizens who are now crying for want
of grains. Thus I shall satisfy the crying citizens of my kingdom.

PURPORT

Here we find some indication how the government can arrange for the
eating of cow flesh. It is here indicated that in a rare circumstance when
there is no supply of grains, the government may sanction the eating of
meat. However, when there is sufficient food, the government should not
allow the eating of cow’s flesh just to satisfy the fastidious tongue. In
other words, in rare circumstances, when people are suffering for want of
grains, meat-eating or flesh-eating can be allowed, but not otherwise. The
maintenance of slaughterhouses for the satisfaction of the tongue and the
killing of animals unnecessarily should never be sanctioned by a government.

As described in the previous verse, animals or cows should be given suf-
ficient grass to eat. If, despite a sufficient supply of grass, a cow does not
supply milk, and there is an acute shortage of food, the dried-up cow may
be utilized to feed the hungry masses of people. According to the law of
necessity, first of all human society must try to produce food grains and
vegetables, but if they fail in this, they can indulge in flesh-eating. Other-
wise not. As human society is presently structured, there is sufficient pro-
duction of grains all over the world. Therefore the opening of slaughter-
houses cannot be supported. In some nations there is so much surplus
grain that sometimes extra grain is thrown into the sea, and sometimes
the government forbids further production of grain. The conclusion is that
the earth produces sufficient grain to feed the entire population, but the
distribution of this grain is restricted due to trade regulations and a desire for
profit. Consequently in some places there is scarcity of grain and in others
profuse production. If there were one government on the surface of the
earth to handle the distribution of grain, there would be no question of
scarcity, no necessity to open slaughterhouses, and no need to present false
theories about overpopulation.

TEXT 26
SAP TAT Sta aT: |
Wy Fgatat ze aatsT A: 124
