SKS Swaminarayan Shikshapatri Slok 12

1
SKS Swaminarayan Shikshapatri Slok 12
No creatures such as goats and cows shall be
killed even for offering as a sacrifice to
deities or ancestors, because non-violence is the
highest of all Dharmas, as stated in the
Shastras.
2
Slok 12
Lord Swaminarayan says that his devotees
should never kill any living creature, including
tiny insects such as ants, bugs, lice etc in any
form or for any reason e.g. leisure, religious
sacrifices, and satisfying ones taste. From
the previous slok onwards, Lord Shree
Swaminarayan teaches us how we should live our
lives. The first teaching is of basic humanity
towards all living beings. This basic humanity is
extended to all souls, but particularly to those
helpless creatures that are at risk to our
violence. God teaches us that every creature has
the right to exist in its respective habitat or
environment. Acts of killing are termed as the
worst sins. A devotee must wash away the sins of
his past actions by Prayschit (repentance,
penitence).
3
Slok 12
Killing of insects accidentally (e.g. by
walking and stepping on ants, bugs etc.) is also
classed as a sin but involves a lesser degree of
repentance, as this sinful act can be washed away
by regular Kirtans/ Bhakti(devotion). However,
this does not imply that one can continue
committing the sinful acts knowingly. There
are five household tasks where it is possible for
such killings working in the kitchen, using
water, grinding food/grains, generating noise and
cleaning the house. Animals may be killed
whilst cooking as there may be little insects
inside the vegetables being cooked. There may
even be parasites living on the skin, therefore
one should always check and wash vegetables
before cooking them. Killing through the use of
water can be avoided by filtering the water. (See
verse 30) Some people themselves grind
grains for making flour. These grains may have
little insects in them and these may also be
crushed. To avoid this, one should check the
grains before crushing them.
4
Slok 12
Loud noises can also kill insects and some
microscopic animals. Therefore, one should try to
avoid making loud noises as much as possible.
Insects may also be killed while cleaning the
house as they may be sucked into vacuum cleaners
or crushed by the broom. One should therefore be
careful while cleaning the house. These sins
may be washed away by welcoming someone who comes
to ones house in need, treating their parents
with respect, reading religious scriptures and
giving alms to Brahmins. This applies only if the
killing is accidental. Deliberate killing has to
be atoned for by penance.
5
Slok 12
All living beings have a soul. In verse 107 and
108 it is said that Lord Shree Swaminarayan
resides in the soul, so killing these insects, is
likened to killing the understanding of the body
(Soul). According to the Shastras, there are
three types of killing, and all these carry the
same punishments. The first is physical killing.
The second is mental killing (by inflicting
mental torture). And the third is verbal killing
(threatening to kill, abusing through speech).
Therefore Lord Shree Swaminarayan says that
whoever takes the vow of non-violence gets the
fruit of all the Yajnas done by him. Thus one
should not kill even in the name of God.
6
Slok 12
In the previous verse, we have been told not
to kill even the smallest of insects. Killing
animals for the cause of ancestors and devotees
should be avoided. If we perform sacrifices in
order to please them, it means that we are giving
them joy at the cost of another life. We should
not like to have someone killed for us, as it is
a sin. Lord Shree Swaminarayan tells His
devotees that each Soul is equally important for
Him, so will it please Him if one sacrifices
animals for His happiness? There is also no
reward for sacrificing animals as it results in
rebirth and that soul has to go through the cycle
of birth and death once again. Non-violence
is the highest of all Dharmas as it is the most
difficult to observe. It becomes easy for a
warrior to kill someone who abuses him just as it
is easy for a householder to step on a small ant.
Everybody has a right to live as Lord Shree
Swaminarayan has given all of us a body and soul.
Only He has the right to take away life, thus by
killing animals we trespass over His right.