# Cc. Ādi 17.159 ## Text > prabhu kahe,—vede kahe go-vadha niṣedha > ataeva hindu-mātra nā kare go-vadha ## Synonyms *prabhu* *kahe*—the Lord replied; *vede*—in the *Vedas*; *kahe*—is enjoined; *go*-*vadha*—cow-killing; *niṣedha*—prohibition; *ataeva*—therefore; *hindu*—Hindu; *mātra*—any; *nā*—does not; *kare*—execute; *go*-*vadha*—cow-killing. ## Translation **Refuting the Kazi's statement, the Lord immediately replied, "The Vedas clearly enjoin that cows should not be killed. Therefore every Hindu, whoever he may be, avoids indulging in cow-killing.** ## Purport In the Vedic scriptures there are concessions for meat-eaters. It is said that if one wants to eat meat, he should kill a goat before the goddess Kālī and then eat its meat. Meat-eaters are not allowed to purchase meat or flesh from a market or slaughterhouse. There are no sanctions for maintaining regular slaughterhouses to satisfy the tongues of meat-eaters. As far as cow-killing is concerned, it is completely forbidden. Since the cow is considered a mother, how could the *Vedas* allow cow-killing? Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu pointed out that the Kazi's statement was faulty. In the *Bhagavad-gītā* [[bg/18/44|(Bg. 18.44)]] there is a clear injunction that cows should be protected: *kṛṣi-gorakṣya-vāṇijyaṁ vaiśya-karma svabhāva-jam.* "The duty of *vaiśyas* is to produce agricultural products, trade and give protection to cows." Therefore it is a false statement that the Vedic scriptures contain injunctions permitting cow-killing.