TEXT 52
yatha pankena pankambhah
suraya va surakrtam
bhuta-hatyam tathaivaikam
na yajnair marstum arhati
SYNONYMS
yathaas much as; pankenaby the mud; panka-ambhahwater mixed with mud; surayaby wine; vaeither; surakrtamimpurity caused by the slight touch of wine; bhuta-hatyamkilling of animals; tathalike that; evacertainly; ekamone; nanever; yajnaihby the prescribed sacrifices; marstumto counteract; arhatiis worthwhile.
TRANSLATION
As it is not possible to filter muddy water through mud, or purify a wine-stained pot with wine, it is not possible to counteract the killing of men by sacrificing animals.
PURPORT
Asvamedha yajnas or gomedha yajnas, sacrifices in which a horse or a bull is sacrificed, were not, of course, for the purpose of killing the animals. Lord Caitanya said that such animals sacrificed on the altar of yajna were rejuvenated and a new life was given to them. It was just to prove the efficacy of the hymns of the Vedas. By recitation of the hymns of the Vedas in the proper way, certainly the performer gets relief from the reactions of sins, but in case of such sacrifices improperly done under inexpert management, surely one has to become responsible for animal sacrifice. In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy there is no possibility of performing the yajnas perfectly for want of expert brahmanas who are able to conduct such yajnas. Maharaja Yudhisthira therefore gives a hint to performing sacrifices in the age of Kali. In the Kali-yuga the only sacrifice recommended is the performance of hari-nama-yajna inaugurated by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. But one should not indulge in animal killing and counteract it by performing the hari-nama yajna. Those who are devotees of the Lord never kill an animal for self-interest, and (as the Lord ordered Arjuna) they do not refrain from performing the duty of a ksatriya. The whole purpose, therefore, is served when everything is done for the will of the Lord. This is possible only for the devotees.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the First Canto, Eighth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "Prayers by Queen Kunti and Pariksit Saved."

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