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).
There is no greater sinner than that (man) who, though not worshipping the gods or the manes, seeks to increase (the bulk of) his own flesh by the flesh of other (beings).
वर्षे वर्षेऽश्वमेधेन यो यजेत शतं समाः । मांसानि च न खादेद् यस्तयोः पुण्यफलं समम् ॥ ५३ ॥
By subsisting on pure fruit and roots, and by eating food fit for ascetics (in the forest), one does not gain (so great) a reward as by entirely avoiding (the use of) flesh.
फलमूलाशनैर्मेध्यैर्मुन्यन्नानां च भोजनैः । न तत् फलमवाप्नोति यत्मांसपरिवर्जनात् ॥ ५४ ॥
By subsisting on pure fruit and roots, and by eating food fit for ascetics (in the forest), one does not gain (so great) a reward as by entirely avoiding (the use of) flesh.
Me he (mam sah)’will devour in the next (world), whose flesh I eat in this (life); the wise declare this (to be) the real meaning of the word ’flesh’(mamsah).