Rats are creating menace in house.
Either I kill rat or using rat catcher. The problem with rat catcher is that I will leave it at some place where the rat will again annoy someone else. At least I want them outside my house. What is best for a practicing devotee in this situation?
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Prabhupāda: Yes, but sometimes... That depends on the person. Sometimes... Those who are pious persons, they know that these rats, they are also hungry and they should be given some food. That is the vision of the pious person. And that is stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, that in your house you should see not only to the welfare of your children. Even there is a lizard, there is a rat, even there is a snake, you should see how he is also comfortably situated. That is spiritual communism. In Vṛndāvana still, a snake found in the house is never killed, snake. Still a rat is never killed. If you kill a rat in Vṛndāvana, then so many people will come: "Oh, you are committing such sinful acts. You are killing a rat." That depends on the mentality of the person. You can take care of this animal, I mean to say, against the disturbance created by this animal, but you cannot kill them. That is not. But when it is unavoidable, we have to do like that. But as far as possible we should avoid. We have heard from our father that his elder brother in the village had a cloth shop, and there were rats. So at night he would keep a big bowl of rice in the middle of the shop, and the rats will eat whole night. They would not commit any harm to the cloth. They respect it. They are also hungry, they are also living entities. They have also right to live, to eat. Īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvam [Īśo mantra 1]. Everything. They are God's creatures. The food is not only meant for you, that you shall simply eat rice and not allow to the rats and cats. No. That is not Vedic injunction. You will find in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. You can take precaution. After all, they are animals. But you cannot kill.
Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.39-40 -- Surat, December 21, 1970
Hare Krishna Rao prabhu,
Please forgive me if i am saying anything wrong but i feel that your viewpoint that "Killing rats you give them mukti" is definitely wrong concept. If this is the way to get mukti then we are allowed to kill everyone as they will get mukti. Instead i have read that if we kill any living being unneccessarily then actually we hinder their progress for human life. I agree that catching the rats is a difficult task but still not impossible one. If it is absolutely necessary to kill them then chant Mahamantra while putting poison and pray to Lord to forgive your sins but do not induldge in further sins on the strength of Mahamantra.
Hari Bol