Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 10 - Chapter 1 - Verse 12

Sanskrit:

एवं साधारणं देहमव्यक्तप्रभवाप्ययम् ।को विद्वानात्मसात्कृत्वा हन्ति जन्तूनृतेऽसत: ॥ १२ ॥

ITRANS:

evaṁ sādhāraṇaṁ dehamavyakta-prabhavāpyayamko vidvān ātmasāt kṛtvāhanti jantūn ṛte ’sataḥ

Translation:

This body, after all, is produced by the unmanifested nature and again annihilated and merged in the natural elements. Therefore, it is the common property of everyone. Under the circumstances, who but a rascal claims this property as his own and while maintaining it commits such sinful activities as killing animals just to satisfy his whims? Unless one is a rascal, one cannot commit such sinful activities.

Purport:

Atheists do not believe in the existence of the soul. Nonetheless, unless one is very cruel, why should one kill animals unnecessarily? The body is a manifestation of a combination of matter. In the beginning it was nothing, but by a combination of matter it has come into existence. Then again, when the combination is dismantled, the body will no longer exist. In the beginning it was nothing, and in the end it will be nothing. Why then should one commit sinful activities when it is manifested? It is not possible for anyone to do this unless he is rascal number one.