Questions and Answers: Hunting

Ganga Devi

Another friend writes:

Dandabats. I also have one question about MahaBharat. I am reading just now for first time, took too long probably. I am just a bit puzzled why all these devotees of Krishna are so much involved in hunting all the time. I know they are ksatriya's etc but they also said to live perfect Vedic lives and still hunting also for sports and it seems eating meat is completely agreeable there? Even some texts are saying about brahmana's eating meat and drinking wine? How comes now these things are strictly forbidden for all aspirant devotees but there when it was actually all more according to Vedic law was all acceptable? Maybe silly question but it seems bit puzzling to me

This is a very good question. Prabhupāda's commentaries in Bhagavatam point out that in ancient times, kings were warriors and practiced their skills at war by hunting. According to his version, practically speaking there are no real kings or warriors today as all have been corrupted by the influence of Kali-yuga, which began after the Kurukshetra war. http://mexpostfact.blogspot.mx/.../kali-yuga-dates...

Eating meat and drinking wine is generally forbidden with some exceptions in the Laws of Manu, considered to be the oldest Vedic lawbook.

Historically speaking, brahmanas have always avoided animal slaughter which is considered abominable.

The Mahābhārata may mention episodes of hunting by ancient kings and princes. Sometimes they hunted wild boar or man-eating tigers that marauded the kingdom.

There is some mention of hunting deer, but often the attempt is frustrated: King Dushyant goes hunting deer but is told not to hunt by brahmanas from the ashram of Rishi Kanva. Deer are protected by the Rishi and his followers. Dushyant finds romantic love with Shakuntala and forgets all about hunting. http://mexpostfact.blogspot.mx/2015/04/bhisma-rests-let-me-rest-while.html

Among the important brahmanas in the Mahābhārata I can't think of an example of anyone who eats meat; on the other hand there are instances of punishment for mishandling cows; the eight Vasus, for example are cursed to take birth as mortals for stealing Vasishta's Kamadhenu cow.

Buddhism became popular in India when Vedic practices had become corrupt among a certain section of kṣatriyas and brahmanas. Beginning around 500 B.C. Buddhism was a reform movement that stressed nonviolence. After King Ashoka established Buddhism as a kind of "state religion" within the borders of the Indian sub-continent the practice of vegetarianism was re-established.

Brahmanism had been attacked for corruption they needed to show stricter practice and a greater purity than the Buddhists who practiced nonviolence. Since that time, at least, vegetarian diet has played an important role in "Hindu" or Vedic daily life. So strict vegetarian practice is part of Hindu culture for at least 2500 years.

The "hunting" that takes place in the Mahābhārata is often something like a "plot device"--it leads into some other action, as when Krishna and Arjuna meet Agnidev, who asks them to burn the Khandava forest. Some accounts say they are on picnic with Krishna's sister, Arjuna's wife Subhadra and Krishna's wife Rukmini. The idea is "somehow they are in the forest and X happens," so it's possible that whoever wrote down the account later simply assumed, well they must have been hunting, so "one day they were hunting when X happened." The "hunting" simply creates a background activity so you can remember they were in the forest.

There are any number of examples in Mahābhārata and Rāmayana of how hunting creates a disastrous situation. In the Ramayana when King Dasharatha is hunting, he kills a brahmana by accident and is cursed to lose his son Ram. When Ram goes off chasing the golden deer, he loses Sita. When Pandu goes "hunting" in the forest, he kills a brahmana couple by accident and is cursed to die when trying to get a child with Madri. When King Pariksit is hungry, he gets thirsty and ends by insulting a brahmana in his meditation. The brahmana's son Sringi curses him to die by snake bite. So even great kings who may have permission to use their martial arts skills fall into sinful acts while hunting.

The voracious eater in the Mahabharata is Bhima, also known as Vrikodara, literally Vrik-Udara--"Wolf-Belly." But Bhima is also considered unusually cruel and violent, even by Balarama, Krishna's brother.

The purpose and meaning of Mahabharata is found in the teachings of Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita. In the end, we try to follow Krishna's advice.  In the Ninth Chapter, we find:

Chapter 9: The Most Confidential Knowledge

TEXT 26

patram puspam phalam toyam
yo me bhaktya prayacchati
tad aham bhakty-upahrtam
asnami prayatatmanah

SYNONYMS

patram—a leaf; puspam—a flower; phalam—a fruit; toyam—water; yah—whoever; me—unto Me; bhaktya—with devotion; prayacchati—offers; tat—that; aham—I; bhakti-upahrtam—offered in devotion; asnami—accept; prayata-atmanah—of one in pure consciousness.

TRANSLATION

If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit a water, I will accept it.

PURPORT

Here Lord Krsna, having established that He is the only enjoyer, the primeval Lord, and the real object of all sacrificial offerings, reveals what types of sacrifices He desires to be offered. If one wishes to engage in devotional service to the Supreme in order to be purified and to reach the goal of life-the transcendental loving service of God-then he should find out what the Lord desires of him. One who loves Krsna will give Him whatever He wants, and he avoids offering anything which is undesirable or unasked for. Thus, meat, fish and eggs should not be offered to Krsna. If He desired such things as offerings, He would have said so. Instead He clearly requests that a leaf, fruit, flowers and water be given to Him, and He says of this offering, "I will accept it." Therefore, we should understand that He will not accept meat, fish and eggs. Vegetables, grains, fruits, milk and water are the proper foods for human beings and are prescribed by Lord Krsna Himself. Whatever else we eat cannot be offered to Him, since He will not accept it. Thus we cannot be acting on the level of loving devotion if we offer such foods.