Manava Dharmashastra 5.30

5.30

attā bhakṣayitā| ādyānprāṇinaḥ attuṃ śakyān | pratidivasaṃ bhakṣayanna duṣyati| dhātraiva prajāpatinā attāra ādyā ubhaye'pi sṛṣṭāḥ | tasmātprāṇātyaye māṃsamavaśyaṃ bhakṣaṇīyamiti triślokī vidherasyārthavādaḥ |

The eater incurs no sin by eating, even daily, such animals as are eatable: since the eater as well as the eaten animals have been created by the creator himself—(30).

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):
‘Eater’—one who eats.

‘Eatable’—which are capable of being eaten. He incurs no sin even by eating them daily.

By the ‘Creator’—Prajāpati—himself— have been created both the enter and the eaten.

For this reason when there is danger to life, meat must be eaten. This is the sense of the three verses, which are purely comemendstory—(30).