The virtues of ahimsa (non-injury) and not eating meat are
extolled in Sections 115 and 116 of Book 13. Unlike what we hear from staunch
vegetarians who condemn eating meat, Mahabharata has a more balanced view. Yudhishtra says that he is confused because of contradictory
advice. He asks: "If eating meat is prohibited, why is meat offered in
sacrifice and why is it acceptable to pitris and in shraddas?"
Bhishma’s answer is nuanced. Here is a summary.
Life is precious to every creature. Therefore, how can we
take the life of one to feed oneself? Therefore, eating meat is not
compassionate and not good practice. As long as someone eats meat an animal has
to be killed. If the eater does not, someone else will have to kill and sell
meat. Therefore, if you want to practice ahimsa, you must stop eating meat. You
must also stop asking someone else to kill. You must stop thinking of meat as a
food. Practice ahimsa in thoughts, words and acts.
But, life thrives on life. Meat is a good source of energy. That
is why “it is ordained” that eating meat of an animal sacrificed to the deities
or pitris is accepted. That is because the animal sacrificed at the
alter is assured of “heaven” or devaloka. He was not killed just for our
food, but for the deities. The remnants left after such sacrifice are called “havis” and it is not sinful to eat havis. Indeed, even Brahmins were given
this meat after sacrifices for the ancestors (shraddha).
In addition, specific animals were “ordained” to be
sacrificed. (Deer seems to have been the main animal). Even in eating meat when
one did, specific merits were assigned for not eating meat on certain days.
One other sentence caught my attention. It says that killing
animal or having someone kill an animal for just eating and for its taste is
sinful. Humans should not do that. Only rakshasa’s do it. If you must eat meat,
go and hunt! Give an equal chance to the
animal to survive or kill you! This is a remarkable statement.
In a recent book called Omnivorous Dilemma, Pohlan came to
the same conclusion after experimenting with raising his own food, both vegetables and animals. He found it morally objectionable to raise animals just for
the sake of eating. He also said: “go hunt and risk your life also” if you want
to eat meat.
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