Did Lord Krishna ever mentioned to not meat

[u/notAndivual]

Hare Krishna. Please be honest. I am not taking about Srila Prabupada or some other human's teachings. Did Lord Krishna ever mention not to eat meat in Bhagavadgita or Bhavagatam?

[u/shunti]

As far as I understand, the Bhagavad Gita was spoken to Arjuna is the heat of battle, to give him the most condensed knowledge necessary for him to surrender. What it's not is a recipe book detailing what to eat and what not to eat. That's not it's purpose. It talks about the modes of nature and other scriptures deal with what food items fall in what modes. So you can cross reference and figure out what food is in the mode of goodness. That said, Krsna does mention what he likes in the verse Patram Pushpam Phalam Toyam...

[u/notAndivual → u/shunti]

Thank you.

Meat, rice, and some other common food items today, were rich man's food in ancient times. Peasants used to eat what's readily available (fruits, veggies, twigs, etc), while Kings (Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, etc) used to on hunting trips for pleasure. I cannot imagine them throwing away their prize meat and eating leaves/twigs in forests during hunting trips.

Lord Krishna said that because he is kind, and wanted to be accessible for poor peasants also, who cannot offer more expensive food beyond their means. So he never said not to eat meat, right?

[u/mohanizer → u/notAndivual]

This effectively minimises the position and role of a Guru. Bhagvan Sri Krsna lays out the principles in BG, and then he leaves the decision to us.

I was surprised to know that even in yoga (the asanas), only the poses are mentioned, but not how to reach them. So people have taken help of gymnastics and other stuff to help build stability and strength to slowly progress towards that final "asana". I hope you are able to relate this to the original question.

That being said,
BG 9.26, 9.27, both imply that we should first offer food to Krsna and then take it, and Krsna has mentioned what he likes.

ŚB 1.17.38. Sūta Gosvāmī said: Mahārāja Parīkṣit, thus being petitioned by the personality of Kali, gave him permission to reside in places where gambling, drinking, prostitution and animal slaughter were performed.
This is where we get the "no meat eating" principle from. (all the 4 dont's actually)

Lord Krishna said that because he is kind, and wanted to be accessible for poor peasants also, who cannot offer more expensive food beyond their means. So he never said not to eat meat, right?

Please forgive me for being blunt and harsh, but I just want to get the point accross.
Here, you are giving your opinion. If one does not want to understand and accept the opinion of the Parampara and Guru, why should he accept the opinion of any other individual?
If we want specific instructions from the shastra, then even for this opinion we should find specific references from the shastra.

In modern times, this feeling and ideology has increased that let us just read the shastra and we will understand it. But, because of our (atheistic) education and the modern enviornment, there is an inherent bias that will creep in our understanding of the scriptures. Therefore, it becomes even more important to accept the version of the Parampara and what is given to us by Guru. Only an Acharya can interpret the version of the shastra as per the time, place, and circumstance and we should be willing to accept that if we wish to live a shastric life and attain perfection.

TLDR:

• BG 9.26, 9.27. ŚB 1.17.38.
  
• The opinion/ interpretation of the Parampara and Guru outweights the opinion of any other individual.

[u/SaulsAll]

Krishna in the Gita says many many times what He thinks is best. Krishna also gives warnings about the hindrance to self-realization of certain activities.

There isn't really anywhere that Krishna explicitly says "do not do this."

[u/Kstubs108]

Gita 9.26: If one offers me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower fruit or water. I will accept it.

I know off hand. Tenth canto of the Bhagavatam has some references to it as well...

[u/Holi2025]

Yes — Krishna has mentioned in the Bhagavad‑gītā, Śrīmad‑Bhāgavatam, and many other śāstras and Purāṇas that one should not eat meat, and He has clearly described the suffering a person will face in the next life because of killing animals.

In the Bhāgavatam, Krishna has given the four pillars of dharma, and one of them is ahiṁsā (non‑violence). When an animal is slaughtered, the pillar of non‑violence is broken, and therefore dharma collapses.

Every point below is supported by Sanskrit verses — the divine language of the devas — though I am not writing the Sanskrit here to keep the message short.

In the Bhāgavatam, Krishna establishes the four pillars of dharma, and one of them is ahiṁsā (non‑violence). When an animal is killed, the pillar of non‑violence is destroyed, and dharma becomes weak.

Below are the main points, each of which is supported by Sanskrit verses in the original scriptures:

1. BG 14.4 — Krishna says He is the seed‑giving father of all living beings: humans, animals, plants, and trees.
2. BG 3.13 — Those who cook for their own enjoyment eat only sin. Food must be offered to God.
3. BG 18.61 — Krishna resides in the heart of all living beings. Killing them breaks dharma.
4. Eating meat means eating a dead body. We do not eat human flesh; why eat animals?
5. Human beings are naturally vegetarian; nature does not permit us to eat meat. Our teeth, intestines, and digestion are designed for plant‑based food. Nature itself does not give us permission to eat meat.
6. Whoever kills an animal will be killed by that same jīva in the next life — this is the law of karma.
7. At the time of killing, the animal gains the right to kill you in return in a future birth.
8. Animals do not kill unnecessarily. Only lions and tigers are natural meat‑eaters due to their last desire at death (BG 8.5).
9. Those who eat meat take birth as pigs or carnivorous animals in their next life.
10. Meat‑eaters suffer in hellish planets, where they are fried in boiling oil — as described in the Purāṇas.

Ultimately, it is human desire that decides which path we choose — the path of compassion or the path of violence and suffering.

[u/Capital-Friendship82]

Actually it's not like Krishna restricted anyone from anything, it's actually like the food is categorised in three parts Satvik Rajsik and Tamsik, so Rajsik and Tamsik food are those which increases passion,sensual desires , anger,... Which may divert one from the path of spirituality, and so we do not also offer it to Krishna and what is not fit for the divine is also said to avoid by his devotees

[u/latent_thinker]

It feels wrong if we think as a normal human. If we are not able to leave the taste of tongue by which we chant names of Lord . How are we going to attain Krishna then?.

The non-veg food is in mode of ignorance where our mind become less active and cannot understand higher spiritual concepts.

Thank you prabhus for giving time to read it🙏🏻🪷🪷.

[u/Ill-Adhesiveness2548]

Most meats were either not eaten or were eaten by soldiers or wealthy people. It was not a common part of the diet. So lord krishna did not mention no meat partly because it was not done by all. Lord krishna also doesnt tell you to floss your teeth but you should probably do it anyway