is also violent

eating vegetables is violence, and vegetarians are also committing violence against other living entities because vegetables also have life.

Another significant phrase in this verse is natihimsrena (with minimum violence or sacrifice of life). Even if a devotee has to commit violence, it should not be done beyond what is necessary. Sometimes the question is put before us: "You ask us not to eat meat, but you are eating vegetables. Do you think that is not violence?" The answer is that eating vegetables is violence and vegetarians are also committing violence against other living entities because vegetables also have life. Nondevotees are killing cows, goats and so many other animals for eating purposes, and a devotee who is vegetarian is also killing. But here, significantly, it is stated that every living entity has to live by killing another entity; that is the law of nature. Jivo jivasya jivanam: one living entity is the life for another living entity. But for a human being, that violence should be committed only as much as necessary. (More...)

Sometimes the question is raised that since vegetables also have life and devotees take vegetable foodstuffs, isn't that violence?

In other words, it is especially mentioned here that a devotee must be free from all kinds of violence [jivahimsa]. Lord Caitanya has especially recommended that a devotee cannot commit violence to any living entities. Sometimes the question is raised that vegetable, they have got also life. But the devotees take vegetables as their foodstuff, that is all right. But taking some leaves or twigs from a tree or plant does not mean that killing the plant. Taking some fruits from the tree does not mean killing the tree. So... And besides that, jivahimsa means that every living entity has to pass through a particular type of body according to his past karma; and although every living entity is eternal, he should not be disturbed in his gradual evolutionary process. So devotee has to execute exactly the principles of devotional service and must know that however insignificant a living entity may be, there is presence of the Lord. This universal presence of the Lord must be realized by a devotee. That is an essential fact. (More...)