Significance of Protecting Cows!

Verse 1.17.3 (Phani Prji):

* Previous chapter, we discussed the symbolic representation of Mother Earth and Dharma.
* In this chapter, we see Maharaj Parikshit getting to know the condition of the Bull, Dharma personified.
* SP mentions about the significance of cow's milk. Milking the cow means drawing the principles of religion in a liquid form. The great rsis and munis would live only on milk. Srila Sukadeva Gosvami would go to a householder while he was milking a cow, and he would simply take a little quantity of it for subsistence. Even fifty years ago, no one would deprive a sadhu of a quart or two of milk, and every householder would give milk like water. For a Sanatanist (a follower of Vedic principles) it is the duty of every householder to have cows and bulls as household paraphernalia, not only for drinking milk, but also for deriving religious principles.
* Krishna too, is most close to the cows. That's why he is called Govinda, and the topmost spiritual world is called Goloka. Therefore cows should be protected.
* Being a devotee, we might unknowingly be using products from animals, especially cows. So in this age, it is very tough.
* But there is only one way to escape out of this.
* Sincerely chanting the holy name. We need to develop taste for the holy name, the scriptures. So sincerity is very essential.
* If we are not sincere in our Krishna Consciousness, then we will be considered a sudra who is troubling Mother Earth and hence a burden to Mother Earth.
* Genuinely take shelter of Krishna's holy name while chanting, not mechanical chanting. Be in the present mantra, just put our mind and listen to it sincerely.
* Nama ruchi, jiva daya and vaisnava seva are most important.
* Very important to use natural products, not from animal products.
* We have been speaking on cows for such a long time, it is also important to do something tangible in this regard.