Animal Ethics and Ecology in Classical India – Reflections on a Moral Tradition

Here is a problem for practical reason. Two contradictory courses of action may follow from roughly the same attitude or sentiment, namely, the love of animals. Thus:

(a) This animal is beautiful, it has tender silky skin, a soulful pair of eyes, and graceful movement, really quite healthy, I love this animal, and so will the gods

→ let us pick then this one for the ordained sacrifice; pleaseth it be to the god who receives its soul!