Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 4 · Chapter 17
मैत्रेय उवाच एवं स भगवान् वैन्य: ख्यापितो गुणकर्मभि: । छन्दयामास तान् कामै: प्रतिपूज्याभिनन्द्य च ॥ १ ॥
maitreya uvaca evam sa bhagavan vainyah khyapito guna-karmabhih chandayam asa tan kamaih pratipujyabhinandya ca
The great sage Maitreya continued: In this way the reciters who were glorifying Maharaja Prthu readily described his qualities and chivalrous activities. At the end, Maharaja Prthu offered them various presentations with all due respect and worshiped them adequately.
ब्राह्मणप्रमुखान् वर्णान् भृत्यामात्यपुरोधस: । पौराञ्जानपदान् श्रेणी: प्रकृती: समपूजयत् ॥ २ ॥
brahmana-pramukhan varnan bhrtyamatya-purodhasah pauran jana-padan srenih prakrtih samapujayat
King Prthu thus satisfied and offered all respect to all the leaders of the brahmanas and other castes, to his servants, to his ministers and to the priests, citizens, general countrymen, people from other communities, admirers and others, and thus they all became happy.
विदुर उवाच कस्माद्दधार गोरूपं धरित्री बहुरूपिणी । यां दुदोह पृथुस्तत्र को वत्सो दोहनं च किम् ॥ ३ ॥
vidura uvaca kasmad dadhara go-rupam dharitri bahu-rupini yam dudoha prthus tatra ko vatso dohanam ca kim
Vidura inquired from the great sage Maitreya: My dear brahmana, since mother earth can appear in different shapes, why did she take the shape of a cow? And when King Prthu milked her, who became the calf, and what was the milking pot?
प्रकृत्या विषमा देवी कृता तेन समा कथम् । तस्य मेध्यं हयं देव: कस्य हेतोरपाहरत् ॥ ४ ॥
prakrtya visama devi krta tena sama katham tasya medhyam hayam devah kasya hetor apaharat
The surface of the earth is by nature low in some places and high in others.
सनत्कुमाराद्भगवतो ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मविदुत्तमात् । लब्ध्वा ज्ञानं सविज्ञानं राजर्षि: कां गतिं गत: ॥ ५ ॥
sanat-kumarad bhagavato brahman brahma-vid-uttamat labdhva jnanam sa-vijnanam rajarsih kam gatim gatah
The great saintly King, Maharaja Prthu, received knowledge from Sanat-kumara, who was the greatest Vedic scholar. After receiving knowledge to be applied practically in his life, how did the saintly King attain his desired destination?
यच्चान्यदपि कृष्णस्य भवान् भगवत: प्रभो: । श्रव: सुश्रवस: पुण्यं पूर्वदेहकथाश्रयम् ॥ ६ ॥ भक्ताय मेऽनुरक्ताय तव चाधोक्षजस्य च । वक्तुमर्हसि योऽदुह्यद्वैन्यरूपेण गामिमाम् ॥ ७ ॥
yac canyad api krsnasya bhavan bhagavatah prabhoh sravah susravasah punyam purva-deha-kathasrayam bhaktaya me ’nuraktaya tava cadhoksajasya ca vaktum arhasi yo ’duhyad vainya-rupena gam imam
Prthu Maharaja was a powerful incarnation of Lord Krsna’s potencies; consequently any narration concerning his activities is surely very pleasing to hear, and it produces all good fortune. As far as I am concerned, I am always your devotee as well as a devotee of the Lord, who is known as Adhoksaja. Please therefore narrate all the stories of King Prthu, who, in the form of the son of King Vena, milked the cow-shaped earth.
सूत उवाच चोदितो विदुरेणैवं वासुदेवकथां प्रति । प्रशस्य तं प्रीतमना मैत्रेय: प्रत्यभाषत ॥ ८ ॥
suta uvaca codito vidurenaivam vasudeva-katham prati prasasya tam prita-mana maitreyah pratyabhasata
Suta Gosvami continued: When Vidura became inspired to hear of the activities of Lord Krsna in His various incarnations, Maitreya, also being inspired and being very pleased with Vidura, began to praise him. Then Maitreya spoke as follows.
मैत्रेय उवाच यदाभिषिक्त: पृथुरङ्ग विप्रै-रामन्त्रितो जनतायाश्च पाल: । प्रजा निरन्ने क्षितिपृष्ठ एत्यक्षुत्क्षामदेहा: पतिमभ्यवोचन् ॥ ९ ॥
maitreya uvaca yadabhisiktah prthur anga viprair amantrito janatayas ca palah praja niranne ksiti-prstha etya ksut-ksama-dehah patim abhyavocan
The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, at the time King Prthu was enthroned by the great sages and brahmanas and declared to be the protector of the citizens, there was a scarcity of food grains. The citizens actually became skinny due to starvation. Therefore they came before the King and informed him of their real situation.
वयं राजञ्जाठरेणाभितप्तायथाग्निना कोटरस्थेन वृक्षा: । त्वामद्य याता: शरणं शरण्यंय: साधितो वृत्तिकर: पतिर्न: ॥ १० ॥ तन्नो भवानीहतु रातवेऽन्नंक्षुधार्दितानां नरदेवदेव । यावन्न नङ्क्ष्यामह उज्झितोर्जावार्तापतिस्त्वं किल लोकपाल: ॥ ११ ॥
vayam rajan jatharenabhitapta yathagnina kotara-sthena vrksah tvam adya yatah saranam saranyam yah sadhito vrtti-karah patir nah tan no bhavan ihatu ratave ’nnam ksudharditanam naradeva-deva yavan na nanksyamaha ujjhitorja varta-patis tvam kila loka-palah
Dear King, just as a tree with a fire burning in the hollow of the trunk gradually dries up, we are drying up due to the fire of hunger in our stomachs. You are the protector of surrendered souls, and you have been appointed to give employment to us. Therefore we have all come to you for protection. You are not only a king, but the incarnation of God as well. Indeed, you are the king of all kings. You can give us all kinds of occupational engagements, for you are the master of our livelihood. Therefore, O king of all kings, please arrange to satisfy our hunger by the proper distribution of food grains. Please take care of us, lest we soon die for want of food.
मैत्रेय उवाच पृथु: प्रजानां करुणं निशम्य परिदेवितम् । दीर्घं दध्यौ कुरुश्रेष्ठ निमित्तं सोऽन्वपद्यत ॥ १२ ॥
maitreya uvaca prthuh prajanam karunam nisamya paridevitam dirgham dadhyau kurusrestha nimittam so ’nvapadyata
After hearing this lamentation and seeing the pitiable condition of the citizens, King Prthu contemplated this matter for a long time to see if he could find out the underlying causes.
इति व्यवसितो बुद्ध्या प्रगृहीतशरासन: । सन्दधे विशिखं भूमे: क्रुद्धस्त्रिपुरहा यथा ॥ १३ ॥
iti vyavasito buddhya pragrhita-sarasanah sandadhe visikham bhumeh kruddhas tripura-ha yatha
Having arrived at a conclusion, the King took up his bow and arrow and aimed them at the earth, exactly like Lord Siva, who destroys the whole world out of anger.
प्रवेपमाना धरणी निशाम्योदायुधं च तम् । गौ: सत्यपाद्रवद्भीता मृगीव मृगयुद्रुता ॥ १४ ॥
pravepamana dharani nisamyodayudham ca tam gauh saty apadravad bhita mrgiva mrgayu-druta
When the earth saw that King Prthu was taking his bow and arrow to kill her, she became very much afraid and began to tremble. She then began to flee, exactly like a deer, which runs very swiftly when followed by a hunter. Being afraid of King Prthu, she took the shape of a cow and began to run.
तामन्वधावत्तद्वैन्य: कुपितोऽत्यरुणेक्षण: । शरं धनुषि सन्धाय यत्र यत्र पलायते ॥ १५ ॥
tam anvadhavat tad vainyah kupito ’tyaruneksanah saram dhanusi sandhaya yatra yatra palayate
Seeing this, Maharaja Prthu became very angry, and his eyes became as red as the early-morning sun. Placing an arrow on his bow, he chased the cow-shaped earth wherever she would run.
सा दिशो विदिशो देवी रोदसी चान्तरं तयो: । धावन्ती तत्र तत्रैनं ददर्शानूद्यतायुधम् ॥ १६ ॥
sa diso vidiso devi rodasi cantaram tayoh dhavanti tatra tatrainam dadarsanudyatayudham
The cow-shaped earth ran here and there in outer space between the heavenly planes and the earth, and wherever she ran, the King chased her with his bow and arrows.
लोके नाविन्दत त्राणं वैन्यान्मृत्योरिव प्रजा: । त्रस्ता तदा निववृते हृदयेन विदूयता ॥ १७ ॥
loke navindata tranam vainyan mrtyor iva prajah trasta tada nivavrte hrdayena viduyata
Just as a man cannot escape the cruel hands of death, the cow-shaped earth could not escape the hands of the son of Vena. At length the earth, fearful, her heart aggrieved, turned back in helplessness.
उवाच च महाभागं धर्मज्ञापन्नवत्सल । त्राहि मामपि भूतानां पालनेऽवस्थितो भवान् ॥ १८ ॥
uvaca ca maha-bhagam dharma-jnapanna-vatsala trahi mam api bhutanam palane ’vasthito bhavan
Addressing the great, opulent King Prthu as the knower of religious principles and shelter of the surrendered, she said: Please save me. You are the protector of all living entities. Now you are situated as the King of this plane.
स त्वं जिघांससे कस्माद्दीनामकृतकिल्बिषाम् । अहनिष्यत्कथं योषां धर्मज्ञ इति यो मत: ॥ १९ ॥
sa tvam jighamsase kasmad dinam akrta-kilbisam ahanisyat katham yosam dharma-jna iti yo matah
The cow-shaped earth continued to appeal to the King: I am very poor and have not committed any sinful activities. I do not know why you want to kill me. Since you are supposed to be the knower of all religious principles, why are you so envious of me, and why are you so anxious to kill a woman?
प्रहरन्ति न वै स्त्रीषु कृताग:स्वपि जन्तव: । किमुत त्वद्विधा राजन् करुणा दीनवत्सला: ॥ २० ॥
praharanti na vai strisu krtagahsv api jantavah kim uta tvad-vidha rajan karuna dina-vatsalah
Even if a woman does commit some sinful activity, no one should place his hand upon her. And what to speak of you, dear King, who are so merciful. You are a protector, and you are affectionate to the poor.
मां विपाट्याजरां नावं यत्र विश्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् । आत्मानं च प्रजाश्चेमा: कथमम्भसि धास्यसि ॥ २१ ॥
mam vipatyajaram navam yatra visvam pratisthitam atmanam ca prajas cemah katham ambhasi dhasyasi
The cow-shaped earth continued: My dear King, I am just like a strong boat, and all the paraphernalia of the world is standing upon me. If you break me to pieces, how can you protect yourself and your subjects from drowning?
पृथुरुवाच वसुधे त्वां वधिष्यामि मच्छासनपराङ्मुखीम् । भागं बर्हिषि या वृङ्क्ते न तनोति च नो वसु ॥ २२ ॥
prthur uvaca vasudhe tvam vadhisyami mac-chasana-paran-mukhim bhagam barhisi ya vrnkte na tanoti ca no vasu
King Prthu replied to the earthly Planet: My dear earth, you have disobeyed my orders and rulings. In the form of a demigod you accepted your share of the yajnas we performed, but in return you have not produced sufficient food grains. For this reason I must kill you.
यवसं जग्ध्यनुदिनं नैव दोग्ध्यौधसं पय: । तस्यामेवं हि दुष्टायां दण्डो नात्र न शस्यते ॥ २३ ॥
yavasam jagdhy anudinam naiva dogdhy audhasam payah tasyam evam hi dustayam dando natra na sasyate
Although you are eating green grass every day, you are not filling your milk bag so we can utilize your milk. Since you are willfully committing offenses, it cannot be said that you are not punishable due to your assuming the form of a cow.
त्वं खल्वोषधिबीजानि प्राक् सृष्टानि स्वयम्भुवा । न मुञ्चस्यात्मरुद्धानि मामवज्ञाय मन्दधी: ॥ २४ ॥
tvam khalv osadhi-bijani prak srstani svayambhuva na muncasy atma-ruddhani mam avajnaya manda-dhih
You have so lost your intelligence that, despite my orders, you do not deliver the seeds of herbs and grains formerly created by Brahma and now hidden within yourself.
अमूषां क्षुत्परीतानामार्तानां परिदेवितम् । शमयिष्यामि मद्बाणैर्भिन्नायास्तव मेदसा ॥ २५ ॥
amusam ksut-paritanam artanam paridevitam samayisyami mad-banair bhinnayas tava medasa
Now, with the help of my arrows, I shall cut you to pieces and with your flesh satisfy the hunger-stricken citizens, who are now crying for want of grains. Thus I shall satisfy the crying citizens of my kingdom.
पुमान् योषिदुत क्लीब आत्मसम्भावनोऽधम: । भूतेषु निरनुक्रोशो नृपाणां तद्वधोऽवध: ॥ २६ ॥
puman yosid uta kliba atma-sambhavano ’dhamah bhutesu niranukroso nrpanam tad-vadho ’vadhah
Any cruel person—be he a man, woman or impotent eunuch—who is only interested in his personal maintenance and has no compassion for other living entities may be killed by the king. Such killing can never be considered actual killing.
त्वां स्तब्धां दुर्मदां नीत्वा मायागां तिलश: शरै: । आत्मयोगबलेनेमा धारयिष्याम्यहं प्रजा: ॥ २७ ॥
tvam stabdham durmadam nitva maya-gam tilasah saraih atma-yoga-balenema dharayisyamy aham prajah
You are very much puffed up with pride and have become almost insane. Presently you have assumed the form of a cow by your mystic powers. Nonetheless I shall cut you into small pieces like grain, and I will uphold the entire population by my personal mystic powers.
एवं मन्युमयीं मूर्तिं कृतान्तमिव बिभ्रतम् । प्रणता प्राञ्जलि: प्राह मही सञ्जातवेपथु: ॥ २८ ॥
evam manyumayim murtim krtantam iva bibhratam pranata pranjalih praha mahi sanjata-vepathuh
At this time Prthu Maharaja became exactly like Yamaraja, and his whole body appeared very angry. In other words, he was anger personified. After hearing him, the plane earth began to tremble. She surrendered, and with folded hands began to speak as follows.
धरोवाच नम: परस्मै पुरुषाय मायया विन्यस्तनानातनवे गुणात्मने । नम: स्वरूपानुभवेन निर्धुत द्रव्यक्रियाकारकविभ्रमोर्मये ॥ २९ ॥
dharovaca namah parasmai purusaya mayaya vinyasta-nana-tanave gunatmane namah svarupanubhavena nirdhuta- dravya-kriya-karaka-vibhramormaye
The plane earth spoke: My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, You are transcendental in Your position, and by Your material energy You have expanded Yourself in various forms and species of life through the interaction of the three modes of material nature. Unlike some other masters, You always remain in Your transcendental position and are not affected by the material creation, which is subject to different material interactions. Consequently You are not bewildered by material activities.
येनाहमात्मायतनं विनिर्मिता धात्रा यतोऽयं गुणसर्गसङ्ग्रह: । स एव मां हन्तुमुदायुध: स्वरा- डुपस्थितोऽन्यं शरणं कमाश्रये ॥ ३० ॥
yenaham atmayatanam vinirmita dhatra yato ’yam guna-sarga-sangrahah sa eva mam hantum udayudhah svarad upasthito ’nyam saranam kam asraye
The plane earth continued: My dear Lord, You are the complete conductor of the material creation. You have created this cosmic manifestation and the three material qualities, and therefore You have created me, the plane earth, the resting place of all living entities. Yet You are always fully independent, my Lord. Now that You are present before me and ready to kill me with Your weapons, let me know where I should go to take shelter, and tell me who can give me protection.
य एतदादावसृजच्चराचरं स्वमाययात्माश्रययावितर्क्यया । तयैव सोऽयं किल गोप्तुमुद्यत: कथं नु मां धर्मपरो जिघांसति ॥ ३१ ॥
ya etad adav asrjac caracaram sva-mayayatmasrayayavitarkyaya tayaiva so ’yam kila goptum udyatah katham nu mam dharma-paro jighamsati
In the beginning of creation You created all these moving and nonmoving living entities by Your inconceivable energy. Through this very same energy You are now prepared to protect the living entities. Indeed, You are the supreme protector of religious principles. Why are You so anxious to kill me, even though I am in the form of a cow?
नूनं बतेशस्य समीहितं जनै- स्तन्मायया दुर्जययाकृतात्मभि: । न लक्ष्यते यस्त्वकरोदकारयद् योऽनेक एक: परतश्च ईश्वर: ॥ ३२ ॥
nunam batesasya samihitam janais tan-mayaya durjayayakrtatmabhih na laksyate yas tv akarod akarayad yo ’neka ekah paratas ca isvarah
My dear Lord, although You are one, by Your inconceivable potencies You have expanded Yourself in many forms. Through the agency of Brahma, You have created this universe. You are therefore directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Those who are not sufficiently experienced cannot understand Your transcendental activities because these persons are covered by Your illusory energy.
सर्गादि योऽस्यानुरुणद्धि शक्तिभि- र्द्रव्यक्रियाकारकचेतनात्मभि: । तस्मै समुन्नद्धनिरुद्धशक्तये नम: परस्मै पुरुषाय वेधसे ॥ ३३ ॥
sargadi yo ’syanurunaddhi saktibhir dravya-kriya-karaka-cetanatmabhih tasmai samunnaddha-niruddha-saktaye namah parasmai purusaya vedhase
My dear Lord, by Your own potencies You are the original cause of the material elements, as well as the performing instruments (the senses), the workers of the senses (the controlling demigods), the intelligence and the ego, as well as everything else. By Your energy You manifest this entire cosmic creation, maintain it and dissolve it. Through Your energy alone everything is sometimes manifest and sometimes not manifest. You are therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the cause of all causes. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.
स वै भवानात्मविनिर्मितं जगद् भूतेन्द्रियान्त:करणात्मकं विभो । संस्थापयिष्यन्नज मां रसातला- दभ्युज्जहाराम्भस आदिसूकर: ॥ ३४ ॥
sa vai bhavan atma-vinirmitam jagad bhutendriyantah-karanatmakam vibho samsthapayisyann aja mam rasatalad abhyujjaharambhasa adi-sukarah
My dear Lord, You are always unborn. Once, in the form of the original boar, You rescued me from the waters in the bottom of the universe. Through Your own energy You created all the physical elements, the senses and the heart, for the maintenance of the world.
अपामुपस्थे मयि नाव्यवस्थिता: प्रजा भवानद्य रिरक्षिषु: किल । स वीरमूर्ति: समभूद्धराधरो यो मां पयस्युग्रशरो जिघांससि ॥ ३५ ॥
apam upasthe mayi navy avasthitah praja bhavan adya riraksisuh kila sa vira-murtih samabhud dhara-dharo yo mam payasy ugra-saro jighamsasi
My dear Lord, in this way You once protected me by rescuing me from the water, and consequently Your name has been famous as Dharadhara—He who holds the plane earth. Yet at the present moment, in the form of a great hero, You are about to kill me with sharpened arrows. I am, however, just like a boat on the water, keeping everything afloat.
नूनं जनैरीहितमीश्वराणा- मस्मद्विधैस्तद्गुणसर्गमायया । न ज्ञायते मोहितचित्तवर्त्मभि- स्तेभ्यो नमो वीरयशस्करेभ्य: ॥ ३६ ॥
nunam janair ihitam isvaranam asmad-vidhais tad-guna-sarga-mayaya na jnayate mohita-citta-vartmabhis tebhyo namo vira-yasas-karebhyah
My dear Lord, I am also the creation of one of Your energies, composed of the three modes of material nature. Consequently I am bewildered by Your activities. Even the activities of Your devotees cannot be understood, and what to speak of Your pastimes. Thus everything appears to us to be contradictory and wonderful.
