Ashwamedhe gavalambhe sarpamedhe pitriyajne, Ahinsaya cha mansani pratigrhnati karmana.
"The verse states death is certain for every meat dish. Thus, avoid all meat. The 'no penance' clause applies only to sacrificial contexts that no longer exist today." manusmriti chapter 5 verse 31
Manu tries to have it both ways: uphold the Vedas (which permit sacrifice) while accommodating the new ethical sensibility (which questions all killing). Verse 5.31 is the textual scar of this historical tug-of-war. The 'no penance' clause applies only to sacrificial
This is the most contentious component of the verse. The term Gavalambha literally implies the sacrificing of a cow. Historically, scholars like P.V. Kane and D.R. Bhandarkar have noted that in the early Vedic period, cattle, including cows, were sacrificed for specific rituals. The meat was not seen as "food" in a mundane sense, but as a sacramental offering ( Havishya ). The term Gavalambha literally implies the sacrificing of
Manusmriti Chapter 5, Verse 31, establishes a foundational rule regarding the consumption of meat in ancient Hindu law, distinguishing between ritualistic consumption and eating for personal pleasure. The Verse and Translation
Most traditional pandits today will say that unless you are performing a Vedic bali (animal offering) – which is extremely rare – you cannot claim the "no penance" clause. For ordinary consumption, the latter half of the verse applies: death is certain, and you must bear the karmic consequence. This is why the majority of devout Hindus who follow smriti commentaries are vegetarian.