Shloka 14
Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Varṇāśrama’s Purpose, Ritualism’s Fall, and Yuga-Avatāras with Kali-yuga Saṅkīrtana
ये त्वनेवंविदोऽसन्त: स्तब्धा: सदभिमानिन: । पशून् द्रुह्यन्ति विश्रब्धा: प्रेत्य खादन्ति ते च तान् ॥ १४ ॥
ye tv anevaṁ-vido ’santaḥ stabdhāḥ sad-abhimāninaḥ paśūn druhyanti viśrabdhāḥ pretya khādanti te ca tān
യഥാർത്ഥ ധർമ്മതത്ത്വം അറിയാതിരുന്നിട്ടും തങ്ങളെ അത്യന്തം ധാർമ്മികരെന്ന് കരുതി, വിശ്വാസത്തോടെ സമീപിക്കുന്ന നിർദോഷ മൃഗങ്ങളെ നിർഭയമായി പീഡിപ്പിക്കുന്ന പാപികൾ—അടുത്ത ജന്മത്തിൽ അതേ ജീവികൾ അവരെ തിന്നും।
In this verse we can clearly see the great discrepancies in those persons who do not surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His law. As stated in the Bhāgavatam, harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guṇāḥ: those who do not accept the supremacy of the Supreme Lord gradually become infected with the most sinful propensities that bring, in their turn, terrible suffering upon the nondevotees. In the Western countries such as America, many people proudly proclaim themselves to be most pious religionists and sometimes even prophets or representatives of God. Boasting of their religiosity, such foolish people experience no fear or doubt in cruelly slaughtering innumerable animals in slaughterhouses or on hunting trips for their whimsical sense gratification. In the state of Mississippi there are sometimes pig-killing festivals, in which entire families enjoy watching a pig cruelly butchered before their eyes. Similarly, a former president of the United States from Texas did not consider any social occasion complete without the slaughtering of a cow. Such persons mistakenly consider themselves to be perfectly observing the laws of God and due to such arrogant foolishness lose all touch with reality. When a man is raising an animal for slaughter, he feeds the animal nicely and encourages it to grow fat. Thus the animal gradually accepts its would-be killer as its protector and master. When the master finally approaches the helpless animal with a sharp knife or gun, the animal thinks, “Oh, my master is joking with me.” Only at the last minute does the animal understand that the so-called master is death personified. It is clearly stated in Vedic literature that cruel masters who kill innocent animals will undoubtedly be killed in the next life by a similar process.
FAQs
This verse condemns harming animals—especially by exploiting their trust—and states that such violence brings severe karmic consequences, described as being devoured after death by the very beings one injured.
In Canto 11, Śukadeva instructs Mahārāja Parīkṣit on dharma and the path of devotion; he warns that pride and false respectability can hide sinful acts like cruelty, which obstruct spiritual progress and lead to painful reactions.
Practice compassion and non-violence—avoid supporting cruelty (especially to animals), cultivate humility, and align daily choices with dharma so that devotion is not undermined by hidden harm.