Acharya Prashant addresses the question of animal sacrifice in the context of religion, or Dharma. He explains that if any act, such as sacrifice (bali), is considered a part of Dharma, its purpose must align with the ultimate aim of Dharma, which is to lead one to peace, truth, compassion, and liberation. Anything done in a temple must serve this purpose and cannot be an act that spreads filth, corrupts the mind, or creates unrest. The speaker clarifies that Dharma is the science and process of freeing a human being from their identification with the body (deha-bhav) and the bondage of their animalistic nature (pashuvikta). A person whose consciousness is entirely bound by their body is essentially an animal, regardless of their intelligence, knowledge, or wealth. They may be a knowledgeable animal or an intellectual animal, but an animal nonetheless. The fundamental purpose of Dharma is to liberate this inner animal from its animalism. Therefore, Acharya Prashant explains that "animal sacrifice" (pashu-bali) metaphorically means sacrificing the animal within. He provides symbolic interpretations: the sacrifice of a goat (ajamedha) represents sacrificing the ego that constantly asserts "I, I" (main, main). The sacrifice of a horse (ashwamedha) signifies dedicating the restless, galloping mind to self-inquiry. Similarly, sacrificing a rooster means giving up the ego that proudly wears its comb like a crown. The true sacrifice is to offer one's inner animalism to the divine—to truth, liberation, and compassion. The current practice of literally killing animals is a gross misinterpretation. People engage in this for a combination of reasons: to appear religious, to avoid the difficult inner work that true Dharma demands, and simply for the taste of meat. Acharya Prashant concludes that it is an act of extreme cruelty and foolishness to believe that killing an animal and eating it can bring peace or please any deity.