Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 4 · Chapter 18

Pṛthu Mahārāja Milks the Earth Planet

4.18.1

मैत्रेय उवाच इत्थं पृथुमभिष्टूय रुषा प्रस्फुरिताधरम् । पुनराहावनिर्भीता संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvaca ittham prthum abhistuya rusa prasphuritadharam punar ahavanir bhita samstabhyatmanam atmana

The great saint Maitreya continued to address Vidura: My dear Vidura, at that time, after the plane earth finished her prayers, King Prthu was still not pacified, and his lips trembled in great anger. Although the plane earth was frightened, she made up her mind and began to speak as follows in order to convince the King.

4.18.2

सन्नियच्छाभिभो मन्युं निबोध श्रावितं च मे । सर्वत: सारमादत्ते यथा मधुकरो बुध: ॥ २ ॥

sanniyacchabhibho manyum nibodha sravitam ca me sarvatah saram adatte yatha madhu-karo budhah

My dear Lord, please pacify your anger completely and hear patiently whatever I submit before you. Please turn your kind attention to this. I may be very poor, but a learned man takes the essence of knowledge from all places, just as a bumblebee collects honey from each and every flower.

4.18.3

अस्मिँल्लोकेऽथवामुष्मिन्मुनिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभि: । द‍ृष्टा योगा: प्रयुक्ताश्च पुंसां श्रेय:प्रसिद्धये ॥ ३ ॥

asmil loke ’thavamusmin munibhis tattva-darsibhih drsta yogah prayuktas ca pumsam sreyah-prasiddhaye

To benefit all human society, not only in this life but in the next, the great seers and sages have prescribed various methods conducive to the prosperity of the people in general.

4.18.4

तानातिष्ठति य: सम्यगुपायान् पूर्वदर्शितान् । अवर: श्रद्धयोपेत उपेयान् विन्दतेऽञ्जसा ॥ ४ ॥

tan atisthati yah samyag upayan purva-darsitan avarah sraddhayopeta upeyan vindate ’njasa

One who follows the principles and instructions enjoined by the great sages of the past can utilize these instructions for practical purposes. Such a person can very easily enjoy life and pleasures.

4.18.5

ताननाद‍ृत्य योऽविद्वानर्थानारभते स्वयम् । तस्य व्यभिचरन्त्यर्था आरब्धाश्च पुन: पुन: ॥ ५ ॥

tan anadrtya yo ’vidvan arthan arabhate svayam tasya vyabhicaranty artha arabdhas ca punah punah

A foolish person who manufactures his own ways and means through mental speculation and does not recognize the authority of the sages who lay down unimpeachable directions is simply unsuccessful again and again in his attempts.

4.18.6

पुरा सृष्टा ह्योषधयो ब्रह्मणा या विशाम्पते । भुज्यमाना मया द‍ृष्टा असद्‌भिरधृतव्रतै: ॥ ६ ॥

pura srsta hy osadhayo brahmana ya visampate bhujyamana maya drsta asadbhir adhrta-vrataih

My dear King, the seeds, roots, herbs and grains, which were created by Lord Brahma in the past, are now being used by nondevotees, who are devoid of all spiritual understanding.

4.18.7

अपालितानाद‍ृता च भवद्‌भिर्लोकपालकै: । चोरीभूतेऽथ लोकेऽहं यज्ञार्थेऽग्रसमोषधी: ॥ ७ ॥

apalitanadrta ca bhavadbhir loka-palakaih cori-bhute ’tha loke ’ham yajnarthe ’grasam osadhih

My dear King, not only are grains and herbs being used by nondevotees, but, as far as I am concerned, I am not being properly maintained. Indeed, I am being neglected by kings who are not punishing these rascals who have turned into thieves by using grains for sense gratification. Consequently I have hidden all these seeds, which were meant for the performance of sacrifice.

4.18.8

नूनं ता वीरुध: क्षीणा मयि कालेन भूयसा । तत्र योगेन द‍ृष्टेन भवानादातुमर्हति ॥ ८ ॥

nunam ta virudhah ksina mayi kalena bhuyasa tatra yogena drstena bhavan adatum arhati

Due to being stocked for a very long time, all the grain seeds within me have certainly deteriorated. Therefore you should immediately arrange to take these seeds out by the standard process, which is recommended by the acaryas or sastras.

4.18.9-10

वत्सं कल्पय मे वीर येनाहं वत्सला तव । धोक्ष्ये क्षीरमयान्कामाननुरूपं च दोहनम् ॥ ९ ॥ दोग्धारं च महाबाहो भूतानां भूतभावन । अन्नमीप्सितमूर्जस्वद्भगवान् वाञ्छते यदि ॥ १० ॥

vatsam kalpaya me vira yenaham vatsala tava dhoksye ksiramayan kaman anurupam ca dohanam dogdharam ca maha-baho bhutanam bhuta-bhavana annam ipsitam urjasvad bhagavan vanchate yadi

O great hero, protector of living entities, if you desire to relieve the living entities by supplying them sufficient grain, and if you desire to nourish them by taking milk from me, you should make arrangements to bring a calf suitable for this purpose and a pot in which the milk can be kept, as well as a milkman to do the work. Since I will be very much affectionate towards my calf, your desire to take milk from me will be fulfilled.

4.18.11

समां च कुरु मां राजन्देववृष्टं यथा पय: । अपर्तावपि भद्रं ते उपावर्तेत मे विभो ॥ ११ ॥

samam ca kuru mam rajan deva-vrstam yatha payah apartav api bhadram te upavarteta me vibho

My dear King, may I inform you that you have to make the entire surface of the globe level. This will help me, even when the rainy season has ceased. Rainfall comes by the mercy of King Indra. Rainfall will remain on the surface of the globe, always keeping the earth moistened, and thus it will be auspicious for all kinds of production.

4.18.12

इति प्रियं हितं वाक्यं भुव आदाय भूपति: । वत्सं कृत्वा मनुं पाणावदुहत्सकलौषधी: ॥ १२ ॥

iti priyam hitam vakyam bhuva adaya bhupatih vatsam krtva manum panav aduhat sakalausadhih

After hearing the auspicious and pleasing words of the plane earth, the King accepted them. He then transformed Svayambhuva Manu into a calf and milked all the herbs and grains from the earth in the form of a cow, keeping them in his cupped hands.

4.18.13

तथापरे च सर्वत्र सारमाददते बुधा: । ततोऽन्ये च यथाकामं दुदुहु: पृथुभाविताम् ॥ १३ ॥

tathapare ca sarvatra saram adadate budhah tato ’nye ca yatha-kamam duduhuh prthu-bhavitam

Others, who were as intelligent as King Prthu, also took the essence out of the earthly plane. Indeed, everyone took this opportunity to follow in the footsteps of King Prthu and get whatever he desired from the plane earth.

4.18.14

ऋषयो दुदुहुर्देवीमिन्द्रियेष्वथ सत्तम । वत्सं बृहस्पतिं कृत्वा पयश्छन्दोमयं शुचि ॥ १४ ॥

rsayo duduhur devim indriyesv atha sattama vatsam brhaspatim krtva payas chandomayam suci

All the great sages transformed Brhaspati into a calf, and making the senses into a pot, they milked all kinds of Vedic knowledge to purify words, mind and hearing.

4.18.15

कृत्वा वत्सं सुरगणा इन्द्रं सोममदूदुहन् । हिरण्मयेन पात्रेण वीर्यमोजो बलं पय: ॥ १५ ॥

krtva vatsam sura-gana indram somam aduduhan hiranmayena patrena viryam ojo balam payah

All the demigods made Indra, the King of heaven, into a calf, and from the earth they milked the beverage soma, which is nectar. Thus they became very powerful in mental speculation and bodily and sensual strength.

4.18.16

दैतेया दानवा वत्सं प्रह्लादमसुरर्षभम् । विधायादूदुहन् क्षीरमय:पात्रे सुरासवम् ॥ १६ ॥

daiteya danava vatsam prahladam asurarsabham vidhayaduduhan ksiram ayah-patre surasavam

The sons of Diti and the demons transformed Prahlada Maharaja, who was born in an asura family, into a calf, and they extracted various kinds of liquor and beer, which they put into a pot made of iron.

4.18.17

गन्धर्वाप्सरसोऽधुक्षन् पात्रे पद्ममये पय: । वत्सं विश्वावसुं कृत्वा गान्धर्वं मधु सौभगम् ॥ १७ ॥

gandharvapsaraso ’dhuksan patre padmamaye payah vatsam visvavasum krtva gandharvam madhu saubhagam

The inhabitants of Gandharvaloka and Apsaroloka made Visvavasu into a calf, and they drew the milk into a lotus flower pot. The milk took the shape of sweet musical art and beauty.

4.18.18

वत्सेन पितरोऽर्यम्णा कव्यं क्षीरमधुक्षत । आमपात्रे महाभागा: श्रद्धया श्राद्धदेवता: ॥ १८ ॥

vatsena pitaro ’ryamna kavyam ksiram adhuksata ama-patre maha-bhagah sraddhaya sraddha-devatah

The fortunate inhabitants of Pitrloka, who preside over the funeral ceremonies, made Aryama into a calf. With great faith they milked kavya, food offered to the ancestors, into an unbaked earthen pot.

4.18.19

प्रकल्प्य वत्सं कपिलं सिद्धा: सङ्कल्पनामयीम् । सिद्धिं नभसि विद्यां च ये च विद्याधरादय: ॥ १९ ॥

prakalpya vatsam kapilam siddhah sankalpanamayim siddhim nabhasi vidyam ca ye ca vidyadharadayah

After this, the inhabitants of Siddhaloka, as well as the inhabitants of Vidyadhara-loka, transformed the great sage Kapila into a calf, and making the whole sky into a pot, they milked out specific yogic mystic powers, beginning with anima. Indeed, the inhabitants of Vidyadhara-loka acquired the art of flying in the sky.

4.18.20

अन्ये च मायिनो मायामन्तर्धानाद्भुतात्मनाम् । मयं प्रकल्प्य वत्सं ते दुदुहुर्धारणामयीम् ॥ २० ॥

anye ca mayino mayam antardhanadbhutatmanam mayam prakalpya vatsam te duduhur dharanamayim

Others also, the inhabitants of planes known as Kimpurusa-loka, made the demon Maya into a calf, and they milked out mystic powers by which one can disappear immediately from another’s vision and appear again in a different form.

4.18.21

यक्षरक्षांसि भूतानि पिशाचा: पिशिताशना: । भूतेशवत्सा दुदुहु: कपाले क्षतजासवम् ॥ २१ ॥

yaksa-raksamsi bhutani pisacah pisitasanah bhutesa-vatsa duduhuh kapale ksatajasavam

Then the Yaksas, Raksasas, ghosts and witches, who are habituated to eating flesh, transformed Lord Siva’s incarnation Rudra (Bhutanatha) into a calf and milked out beverages made of blood and put them in a pot made of skulls.

4.18.22

तथाहयो दन्दशूका: सर्पा नागाश्च तक्षकम् । विधाय वत्सं दुदुहुर्बिलपात्रे विषं पय: ॥ २२ ॥

tathahayo dandasukah sarpa nagas ca taksakam vidhaya vatsam duduhur bila-patre visam payah

Thereafter cobras and snakes without hoods, large snakes, scorpions and many other poisonous animals took poison out of the plane earth as their milk and kept this poison in snake holes. They made a calf out of Taksaka.

4.18.23-24

पशवो यवसं क्षीरं वत्सं कृत्वा च गोवृषम् । अरण्यपात्रे चाधुक्षन्मृगेन्द्रेण च दंष्ट्रिण: ॥ २३ ॥ क्रव्यादा: प्राणिन: क्रव्यं दुदुहु: स्वे कलेवरे । सुपर्णवत्सा विहगाश्चरं चाचरमेव च ॥ २४ ॥

pasavo yavasam ksiram vatsam krtva ca go-vrsam aranya-patre cadhuksan mrgendrena ca damstrinah kravyadah praninah kravyam duduhuh sve kalevare suparna-vatsa vihagas caram cacaram eva ca

The four-legged animals like the cows made a calf out of the bull who carries Lord Siva and made a milking pot out of the forest. Thus they got fresh green grasses to eat. Ferocious animals like tigers transformed a lion into a calf, and thus they were able to get flesh for milk. The birds made a calf out of Garuda and took milk from the planet earth in the form of moving insects and nonmoving plants and grasses.

4.18.25

वटवत्सा वनस्पतय: पृथग्रसमयं पय: । गिरयो हिमवद्वत्सा नानाधातून् स्वसानुषु ॥ २५ ॥

vata-vatsa vanaspatayah prthag rasamayam payah girayo himavad-vatsa nana-dhatun sva-sanusu

The trees made a calf out of the banyan tree, and thus they derived milk in the form of many delicious juices. The mountains transformed the Himalayas into a calf, and they milked a variety of minerals into a pot made of the peaks of hills.

4.18.26

सर्वे स्वमुख्यवत्सेन स्वे स्वे पात्रे पृथक् पय: । सर्वकामदुघां पृथ्वीं दुदुहु: पृथुभाविताम् ॥ २६ ॥

sarve sva-mukhya-vatsena sve sve patre prthak payah sarva-kama-dugham prthvim duduhuh prthu-bhavitam

The plane earth supplied everyone his respective food. During the time of King Prthu, the earth was fully under the control of the King. Thus all the inhabitants of the earth could get their food supply by creating various types of calves and putting their particular types of milk in various pots.

4.18.27

एवं पृथ्वादय: पृथ्वीमन्नादा: स्वन्नमात्मन: । दोहवत्सादिभेदेन क्षीरभेदं कुरूद्वह ॥ २७ ॥

evam prthv-adayah prthvim annadah svannam atmanah doha-vatsadi-bhedena ksira-bhedam kurudvaha

My dear Vidura, chief of the Kurus, in this way King Prthu and all the others who subsist on food created different types of calves and milked out their respective eatables. Thus they received their various foodstuffs, which were symbolized as milk.

4.18.28

ततो महीपति: प्रीत: सर्वकामदुघां पृथु: । दुहितृत्वे चकारेमां प्रेम्णा दुहितृवत्सल: ॥ २८ ॥

tato mahipatih pritah sarva-kama-dugham prthuh duhitrtve cakaremam premna duhitr-vatsalah

Thereafter King Prthu was very satisfied with the plane earth, for she sufficiently supplied all food to various living entities. Thus he developed an affection for the plane earth, just as if she were his own daughter.

4.18.29

चूर्णयन् स्वधनुष्कोट्या गिरिकूटानि राजराट् । भूमण्डलमिदं वैन्य: प्रायश्चक्रे समं विभु: ॥ २९ ॥

curnayan sva-dhanus-kotya giri-kutani raja-rat bhu-mandalam idam vainyah prayas cakre samam vibhuh

After this, the king of all kings, Maharaja Prthu, leveled all rough places on the surface of the globe by breaking up the hills with the strength of his bow. By his grace the surface of the globe almost became flat.

4.18.30

अथास्मिन् भगवान् वैन्य: प्रजानां वृत्तिद: पिता । निवासान् कल्पयां चक्रे तत्र तत्र यथार्हत: ॥ ३० ॥

athasmin bhagavan vainyah prajanam vrttidah pita nivasan kalpayam cakre tatra tatra yatharhatah

To all the citizens of the state, King Prthu was as good as a father. Thus he was visibly engaged in giving them proper subsistence and proper employment for subsistence. After leveling the surface of the globe, he earmarked different places for residential quarters, inasmuch as they were desirable.

4.18.31

ग्रामान् पुर: पत्तनानि दुर्गाणि विविधानि च । घोषान् व्रजान् सशिबिरानाकरान् खेटखर्वटान् ॥ ३१ ॥

graman purah pattanani durgani vividhani ca ghosan vrajan sa-sibiran akaran kheta-kharvatan

In this way the King founded many types of villages, settlements and towns and built forts, residences for cowherdsmen, stables for the animals, and places for the royal camps, mining places, agricultural towns and mountain villages.

4.18.32

प्राक्पृथोरिह नैवैषा पुरग्रामादिकल्पना । यथासुखं वसन्ति स्म तत्र तत्राकुतोभया: ॥ ३२ ॥

prak prthor iha naivaisa pura-gramadi-kalpana yatha-sukham vasanti sma tatra tatrakutobhayah

Before the reign of King Prthu there was no planned arrangement for different cities, villages, pasturing grounds, etc. Every thing was scattered, and everyone constructed his residential quarters according to his own convenience. However, since King Prthu plans were made for towns and villages.