Beef prohibited by ‘Charak samhita’ !

Countering statement of scientist P. M. Bhargava regarding beef

Scientist (?) P. M. Bhargava’s statement that ‘Beef is a remedy on many ailments as per Ayurveda’ is half truth. Characteristics of beef are given in ‘Charak Samhita’ and its use in ailments is also given. We shall see these references as they are; but before that, it is necessary to understand the condition prevailing during the ancient times. 

1. During ancient times, a student studied ‘Dharma-shastra’ before Ayurveda’, therefore, he knew that beef was not to be consumed : Earlier in ancient times, ‘Ayurveda’ used to be taught in Gurukul. Before taking admission to study Ayurveda, a student had to study ‘Dharma-shastra’ and Hindu Dharma-shastra teaches that ‘Killing a cow was a big sin and consumption of beef was prohibited’ in different contexts.
2. Ayurveda is a science and it has reference of characteristics of every substance: Why characteristics of beef were mentioned in ‘Charak-samhita’ should be thought about with context to the then period. ‘Ayurveda’ is a science and it is said ‘Sarvam Dravyam Pancha-Bhautikam Asmin Arthe’ (Charak-Samhita, Sutra-sthan, Adhyay 26, Shloka 10) which means even substance made of ‘Pancha-Bhautika’ is a medicine. It is the principle of Ayurveda and science based on it explains characteristics of every substance; therefore, characteristics of beef are also explained.
3. Characteristics of beef are given so that ‘Vaidya’ should know about condition of health of evil persons: During the period of ‘Charak-Samhita’ (minimum 2000 years BC), there were communities like ‘Chaandaal’, ‘Mlenchha’ etc. We know that earlier to this period, there used to be demons, monsters etc. The characteristics of beef have been explained in ‘Charak-Samhita’ so as to know if demonic people were consuming beef, what kind of ailments they would be affected with or why wouldn’t get affected with certain ailments etc.
4. Rules regarding consumption of beef already explained in ‘Charak-Samhita’ : It has been a wretched attempt of Bhargava to give importance of beef based on ‘Charak-Samhita’. The shlokas related to beef and their meanings are given below.

** अहिततमानप्युपदेक्ष्यामः । गोमांसं मृगमांसानाम् । – चरकसंहिता, सूत्रस्थान, अध्याय २५, श्‍लोक ३९

 Meaning: Beef is most harmful among meat of animals.

** गव्यं केवलवातेषु पीनसे विषमज्वरे ।

शुष्ककासश्रमात्यग्निमांसक्षयहितं च तत् ॥ – चरकसंहिता, सूत्रस्थान, अध्याय २७, श्‍लोक ८०

Meaning : Beef is effective only on ailments like flatulence, chronic cold, typhoid, fatigue, excess hunger, reduction of body-mass etc.    

It is first explained that beef is not good for health and then the exceptions are explained as beef curing certain ailments. It is like the saying in English ‘Exception proves the rule’. Bhargava stated exception; proving that beef should not be eaten which is the rule.

5. Bhargava has told half facts misguiding people which is vicious on his part : A Saint has said in his discourse , “If you want to go to hell, drink liquor !” Now, if someone says that the Saint advised to have liquor, it would be vicious. Similarly, Bhargava’s statement is misleading.
6. Bhargava’s statement is illogical : Few ailments, which have been stated to be cured by consumption of beef, have several alternate remedies explained in ‘Charak-Samhita’; therefore, will anyone advise to consume beef instead of other medicines as prescribed in ‘Charak-Samhita’ ? So, those making statements for cheap publicity based on half knowledge of ‘Charak-Samhita’ will only consume beef’ and should be treated as an exception.    
7. Bhargava encouraging people to consume beef, is depriving farmers of their production ! : In Ayurveda, use of ‘Panchagavya’ made from cow is explained in the context of many ailments. Modern science has accepted that ‘Gou-mutra’ is useful even for incurable diseases like cancer. Moreover, it has been recently found after research that certain litres of ‘Gou-mutra’ can be processed for getting certain grams of gold. If cow is maintained by everyone, one can get ‘Gou-mutra’ and by properly using ‘Gou-mutra’, gold can be obtained along with good health; but what can one get by killing her ? Proper use of ‘Gou-mutra’ helps in getting milk worth Rs. 3 lakh per annum from a barren cow. Instead of taking into account the ‘Charak-Samhita’ in totality, P.M. Bhargava has encouraged people to consume beef and is trying to deprive farmers of their means of income. Isn’t it wrong to give such advice only to pamper own taste-buds and destroy farmers? Everyone knows the story of a stupid person killing a cock that was laying gold egg everyday. Here, Bhargava is also behaving like that stupid person. The only difference is, in that story, a person is stupid and here, Bhargava is a scientist !       
8. Appeal to those returning awards ! : Bhargava returned ‘Padmabhushan’ award conferred on him to protest against increasing intolerance in this country. Today, the number of persons returning awards is on rise; however, every tom, dick and harry is returning award and getting publicity; so Bhargava needed other tactic to draw attention and he must have made such statement. Bhargava is a scientist; therefore, his statement will create hype for few days; there will be fruitless discussions on channels and after some time, the issue will settle down; then Bhargava may have to find something new to be in the news. Considering Bhargava’s background, he may not find another controversial sentence in ‘Charak-Samhita’. Given below is a ‘shloka’ from ‘Charak-Samhita’ for the convenience of Bhargava.

* नातिशीतगुरुस्निग्धं मांसमाजमदोषलम् ।

शरीरधातुसामान्यादनभिष्यन्दि बृंहणम् ॥ – चरकसंहिता, सूत्रस्थान, अध्याय २७, श्‍लोक ६१

Meaning : Meat of a goat and human is same and their characteristics are – it is not very cool, heavy or fatty therefore, does not cause much problem. It does not increase juices in body causing harm. It gives strength.

9. Those, who are twisting meaning of ‘Charak-Samhita’ as they want, should realize that ‘Charak-Samhita’ has not been written by some fool. Bhargava ji ! Meat of goat and human is better than beef. When the issue of beef settles down, you can start another storm ! Of course, that will also be countered because ‘Charak-Samhita’ has not been written by any Tom, Dick and Harry but by Maharshi Agnivesh, the favourite disciple of Sage Atreya. They didn’t have to ever create charade of returning award. These ‘Maharshis’ were great visionaries and knew even at that time, that some upstart might come up after 4000 years; say that beef is medicine and try to mislead people; therefore, he has written in the first chapter of his ‘Samhita’ that

** यो भेषजमविज्ञाय प्राज्ञमानी प्रयच्छति ।

त्यक्तधर्मस्य पापस्य मृत्युभूतस्य दुर्मतेः ।

नरो नरकपाती स्यात्तस्य संभाषणादपि ॥ – चरकसंहिता, सूत्रस्थान, अध्याय १, श्‍लोक १२९ आणि १३०

Meaning : The brainless, sinner who without understanding all characteristics of medicines, considering himself as very clever, leaving his own Dharma, will give such medicine as a form of death (is not a human) but the one who even talks to him, will also languish in hell.

The meaning of the ‘Shloka’ given above is its word to word translation from Sanskrut to Marathi / English. The shloka written by Maharshi is applicable even today and it makes one bow before Maharshi with great respect.

Today, in India, instead of ‘Gou-mutra’, beef is being portrayed as medicine. During the period of Bhagavan Shrikrushna, there was innumerable wealth of cattle and Bharat was considered to be heaven. Today, cow is slaughtered for selfish interests and Indians are really standing in the door of hell. In such situation, ‘It is a prayer to Bhagavan Shrikrushna, who slew Narakasura, that let the statement made by Bhargava encouraging Indians to get pushed into hell, become insignificant !’  

-Vaidya Megharaj Paradkar, Adhyatma Vishwavidyalaya, Goa (11.11.2015)