Q103. Does the Bhagavad-Gita advocate meat eating?

Absolutely not.

God (Lord Krishna) is a pure vegetarian. He doesn’t eat the flesh of animals. “If a pure hearted person, offers me with devotion, a leaf, flower, fruit, or water. I will accept it.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 9.26) God is the father of all living beings and thus He would not order some of His children (the humans) to eat His other children (the animals). Thus, the followers of God must not eat meat, fish, eggs, or buy items made from animals like leather. You should offer all plant foods to God before we eat. So, in this way, we will be released from any sins we unknowingly commit. “The righteous persons eat food that is first offered to Me. They are released from all kinds of sins. But those who don’t offer food to Me before eating, are committing sin.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 3.13) Based on the above verse, we can only eat food that is first offered to Lord Krishna, and since He does not accept meat, fish, or eggs. We cannot eat these either. Some meat eaters say I didn’t kill the animal, and so I cannot be punished. Well in the courts, the accomplices of murderers are also punished by the Judge. In a similar way, the following seven accomplices are all equally responsible for animal murdering, and they are all punished by the supreme judge, Lord Krishna: "He who permits the slaughter of an animal, he who cuts it up, he who kills it, he who buys or sells meat, he who cooks it, he who serves it up, and he who eats it, must all be considered as the slayers of the animal." (Manusmriti 5.51) • • • • • • •

Those who permit the killing Those who cut up the animal Those who kill the animals Those who buy or sell the meat Those who cook the meat Those who serve the meat Those who eat the meat