# Cows and Protection *On cow protection and the importance of the cow in Vedic culture* --- ### Mother Cow > The cow is our mother because we drink her milk. So if you are taking milk from the cow and then killing her, what kind of civilization is this? It is the most sinful civilization. — [[spoken/1976/760619sb.tor|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.3, Toronto, 1976]] --- ### Seven Mothers > According to Vedic civilization, there are seven mothers: the real mother, the nurse, the wife of the brāhmaṇa, the wife of the king, the wife of the spiritual master, the cow, and the earth. All these are considered mothers. — [[spoken/1972/721017sb.vrn|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6, Vṛndāvana, 1972]] --- ### Milk Is the Miracle Food > Cow's milk is the miracle food. From milk you can prepare hundreds of preparations. Milk, butter, ghee, cheese, yogurt, so many things. So the cow is giving so much service, and in return you kill her? This is most ungrateful. — [[spoken/1976/760619sb.tor|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.3, Toronto, 1976]] --- ### Test of Civilization > A civilization that kills cows cannot be called civilized. In Vedic culture, the test of civilization is how they treat the cows and the brāhmaṇas. If cows and brāhmaṇas are protected, that is civilization. — [[spoken/1976/760630sb.nv|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.16, New Vṛndāvana, 1976]] --- ### Killing Will Bring Reaction > If we eat animals, we have to suffer the reaction. The animal will get the opportunity to kill us. This is the law of karma. So why should we create this entanglement? — [[spoken/1976/760619sb.tor|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.3, Toronto, 1976]] --- ### Kṛṣṇa Loves Cows > Kṛṣṇa is always seen with the cows. He is called Govinda, one who gives pleasure to the cows. He is called Gopāla, one who protects the cows. So how can anyone who claims to worship Kṛṣṇa kill cows? — [[spoken/1968/680816jm.mon|Janmāṣṭamī Lecture, Montreal, 1968]] --- ### No Animal Killing > In the spiritual world, in Goloka Vṛndāvana, there are cows. Kṛṣṇa is tending the cows. So the cow is very dear to Kṛṣṇa. Therefore, in Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, we don't allow any animal killing. — [[spoken/1970/700508ip.la|Śrī Īśopaniṣad, Mantra 6, Los Angeles, 1970]] --- ### Agriculture and Cows > The economic solution is agriculture and cow protection. Not these factories and slaughterhouses. That is not civilization. That is barbarianism. The natural life is agriculture and cow protection. — [[spoken/1976/760630sb.nv|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.16, New Vṛndāvana, 1976]] --- ### Both Bull and Cow > Both the bull and the cow are important. The bull is helping in agriculture, and the cow is giving milk. So how can you kill them? They are your best friends. This is most sinful. — [[spoken/1972/721017sb.vrn|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6, Vṛndāvana, 1972]] --- ### Kali-yuga Symptom > In Kali-yuga, people will kill cows and drink liquor and eat meat. This is the prediction. And we can see it happening. Slaughterhouses everywhere. This is Kali-yuga. — [[spoken/1976/760619sb.tor|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.6.3, Toronto, 1976]] --- *10 quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on cows and protection* [[wiki/quotes|Back to Quotes]]