Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Śrīla Prabhupāda? One time you were explaining that Caitanya Mahāprabhu, when He was speaking with the Kazi, He convinced him about that the Koran does not actually advocate meat-eating.
Prabhupāda: Yes. That's a fact. Because the Muslims, they also cannot eat meat unless it is sacrificed in the mosque. There is no recommendation that you purchase from the market and the animal be slaughtered in the slaughterhouse.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Is there some mention not to eat many animals but eat one...
Prabhupāda: Yes. Yes.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: That's what I... I couldn't remember.
Prabhupāda: Yes. In Arabia they were to eat animal but to save him from so many dangerous and sinful life—he has to kill so many goats—better kill one life, a camel or a cow. Camel is big animal. So if you kill one animal, camel, it is equal to fifty goats.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: What about a cow?
Prabhupāda: A cow is also big animal.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So they say like that?
Prabhupāda: Yes... They don't say cow. They say better kill one big animal. "So instead of becoming sinful for killing so many animals, you better kill..." And that is also sacrificed in the mosque, and that is called koravāni. Restriction is there.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So there's no... The karma for killing many goats is more severe than killing one cow.
Prabhupāda: No, no. You become responsible for each and every animal.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Irrespective of what kind of animal.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Now if you can serve the purpose by killing one animal, why should you take the risk of killing many animals?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Even if that one animal is a cow.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Animal is animal. And we say protect cow from economic point of view, kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyam (BG 18.44). Without saving cows you cannot get good food, not from the animal point of view. You require milk and milk preparation.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: And the cow dies anyway.
Prabhupāda: Huh?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Cow is going to die naturally, anyway.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Then, if you want flesh, take that dead body and eat.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Why don't they see this, that just by killing a cow you don't get more cows. They're going to die anyway.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Everyone is going to die, but they are so voracious, they do not wait up to the death, and they have theorized that "Dead animal is dangerous to health. Now kill while it is in life."
Harikeśa: Yes, they think like that.
Prabhupāda: Yes, but... They have got so many nonsense philosophy. But if that philosophy is supported, when you kill the animal, he becomes dead. (laughter)
Sudāmā: Yes, they call it "fresh meat."
Prabhupāda: Just see. "Fresh dead." Just see. The rascals are so fools that unless you make him dead, you cannot eat. So why do you theorize that a dead animal is not good?
Harikeśa: Well, 'cause he had to die from some cause, and that cause is...
Prabhupāda: Cause, all right. It is also cause. You are killing, that's all.
Harikeśa: The knife is clean, whereas the germs are...
Prabhupāda: That's all right. Formerly the Hindus, they used to purchase meat and cook it in Ganges water. (laughter)
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Oh, boy.
Harikeśa: Purify it.
Prabhupāda: They thought, "Now it is..." And you will still find in Calcutta, "Hindu butcher." That Hindu butcher is pure.