FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.52

यथा पङ्केन पङ्काम्भ: सुरया वा सुराकृतम् । भूतहत्यां तथैवैकां न यज्ञैर्मार्ष्टुमर्हति ॥ ५२ ॥
yathā paṅkena paṅkāmbhaḥ
[yathaa pankena pankaambhah]
surayā vā surākṛtam
[surayaa vaa suraakritam]
bhūta-hatyāṁ tathaivaikāṁ
[bhoota-hatyaam tathaivaikaam]
na yajñair mārṣṭum arhati
[na yajnair maarshtum arhati]
yathā — as much as paṅkena — by the mud paṅka-ambhaḥ — water mixed with mud surayā — by wine vā — either surākṛtam — impurity caused by the slight touch of wine bhūta-hatyām — killing of animals tathā — like that eva — certainly ekām — one na — never yajñaiḥ — by the prescribed sacrifices mārṣṭum — to counteract arhati — is worthwhile.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yathā paṅkena paṅkāmbhaḥ
yathā
as much as
paṅkena
by the mud
paṅka-ambhaḥ
water mixed with mud
surayā vā surākṛtam
surayā
by wine
vā
either
surākṛtam
impurity caused by the slight touch of wine
bhūta-hatyāṁ tathaivaikāṁ
bhūta-hatyām
killing of animals
tathā
like that
eva
certainly
ekām
one
na yajñair mārṣṭum arhati
na
never
yajñaiḥ
by the prescribed sacrifices
mārṣṭum
to counteract
arhati
is worthwhile.
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.

Aśvamedha-yajñas or gomedha-yajñas, 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 yajña 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 yajñas perfectly for want of expert brāhmaṇas who are able to conduct such yajñas. Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira 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-nāma-yajña inaugurated by Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. But one should not indulge in animal killing and counteract it by performing the hari-nāma-yajña. 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 kṣatriya. 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 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Prayers by Queen Kuntī and Parīkṣit Saved.”

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Just as one cannot purify muddy water by using mud, or cannot purify what is contaminated with liquor by apply more liquor, it is not possible to purify oneself of killing even one living being by performance of animal sacrifices.
Commentary

“Śruti says sarvaṁ pāpmānaṁ tarati brahmahatyāṁ yo ’śvamedhena yajate: he who performs a horse sacrifice is purified of all sins, even the sin of killing a brāhmaṇa. Therefore you can purify yourself by a horse sacrifice.”

Just as thick mud cannot purify muddy water, and an object made impure by contact with wine cannot become pure by washing it with a lot of wine, one cannot be purified of killing by the performance of many sacrifices which has intentional killing of animals as a major part.

Chapter Nine Passing of Bhīṣma

You can't filter muddy water through mud or purify wine-stained pot with wine; killing men can't be counteracted by sacrificing animals. Symbolic atonement falls short of real reckoning.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I trying to atone for a real wrong with a symbolic gesture?
  • What deeper change is the real repair?
📝 My note

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