Acharya Prashant addresses a question regarding a verse from the Manusmriti (Chapter 5, Verse 30), which states that it is not sinful to eat the meat of edible animals because Brahma has created both the eaters and the eatables. He points out that the subsequent verses clarify this, stating that killing animals for a 'Yajna' (sacrificial ritual) is a divine act, but doing so for meat consumption otherwise is demonic. He further explains that meat bought, or acquired through hunting, when offered to gods and ancestors, does not incur any fault upon being eaten. To understand such verses, Acharya Prashant explains the concept of 'Dharma', specifically the Vedic Dharma. He establishes a clear hierarchy among the scriptures. He states that texts like the Smritis, Puranas, and historical accounts are second-tier scriptures. The primary scriptures are the four Vedas, and at their pinnacle, or as their very essence, are the Upanishads, also known as Vedanta. This hierarchy is fundamental to resolving apparent contradictions within the vast body of religious texts. He elaborates on the principle of scriptural authority, advising that when a conflict arises between a lower-level text like a Smriti and a higher-level one like an Upanishad, the statement from the Upanishad must be considered authentic, and the conflicting one should be dismissed. Using the analogy of a judicial system, he equates the Upanishads to the Supreme Court, whose verdict is final. He asserts that if one identifies as a Hindu or a follower of Sanatana Dharma, their central scriptures are the Upanishads. This is why he focuses on teaching the Upanishads rather than the Manusmriti. Furthermore, Acharya Prashant presents a second principle: the lower-level scriptures can only be correctly understood in the light of the higher ones. The Upanishads serve as the key to interpreting the symbolic stories and allegories found in the Puranas and other texts. Without a foundation in the Upanishads, one cannot even practice true devotion (Bhakti), as its source also lies in them. He distinguishes between Brahma (the creator deity mentioned in Manusmriti) and Brahman (the Ultimate Reality of the Upanishads), stating that a true Brahmin is one connected to Brahman. He concludes by lamenting that the common Hindu has lost touch with philosophy (Darshan), which is the core of Dharma. This has led to the religion degenerating into a collection of misunderstood rituals, traditions, and stories. He argues that this disconnect from the core philosophical texts is the reason for the entry of weakening elements like the caste system and other superstitions into the religion. He stresses the urgent need for a return to Vedanta to purify the Dharma and prevent its decline, asserting that a Hindu who has not read the Upanishads is a Hindu in name only.
