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Yajnavalkya Smriti (VI 234) also declared Govadha (Killing of a cow) as an offence. <blockquote>गोवधो व्रात्यता स्तेयं ऋणानां चानपाक्रिया । अनाहिताग्नितापण्य विक्रयः परिदेवनम् । । ३.२३४ । ।<ref>Yajnavalkya Smrti, Prayashchitta Adhyaya, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Prayashchitta Prakarana.]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''govadho vrātyatā steyaṁ r̥ṇānāṁ cānapākriyā । anāhitāgnitāpaṇya vikrayaḥ paridevanam । । 3.234 । ।''</blockquote>It is this value which has found its way into article 48 of the Constitution of Bharat, which makes it obligatory for the state to make a law prohibiting cow slaughter.

Yajnavalkya Smriti (VI 234) also declared Govadha (Killing of a cow) as an offence. <blockquote>गोवधो व्रात्यता स्तेयं ऋणानां चानपाक्रिया । अनाहिताग्नितापण्य विक्रयः परिदेवनम् । । ३.२३४ । ।<ref>Yajnavalkya Smrti, Prayashchitta Adhyaya, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Prayashchitta Prakarana.]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''govadho vrātyatā steyaṁ r̥ṇānāṁ cānapākriyā । anāhitāgnitāpaṇya vikrayaḥ paridevanam । । 3.234 । ।''</blockquote>It is this value which has found its way into article 48 of the Constitution of Bharat, which makes it obligatory for the state to make a law prohibiting cow slaughter.

== Compassion ==

=== Compassion ===

To have compassion towards all living beings, including human beings was considered as the root of 'Dharma' .Every one was asked to look towards other living beings as his ownself (Atmavat Sarvabhutanam). The Smritis declared that cruelty to animals was a punishable offence. There is also a custom to give a weekly holiday to bullocks. In the Mahabharatha, Raja Rantideva, declares:

To have compassion towards all living beings, including human beings was considered as the root of 'Dharma' .Every one was asked to look towards other living beings as his ownself (Atmavat Sarvabhutanam). The Smritis declared that cruelty to animals was a punishable offence. There is also a custom to give a weekly holiday to bullocks. In the Mahabharatha, Raja Rantideva, declares:<blockquote>कामये दुःखतप्तानां प्रानिनामार्तिनाशनम् | ''kāmaye duḥkhataptānāṁ prānināmārtināśanam |''</blockquote>Meaning: My desire (as the) highest Dharma is to wipe out the tears from the eyes of living beings in distress.

Basaveshwara, the great 12th Century Reformer declared "Compassion is the root of Dharma; bereft of compassion, there is no Dharma".

Basaveshwara, the great 12th Century Reformer declared "Compassion is the root of Dharma; bereft of compassion, there is no Dharma".