Maharaja Prithu Becomes Angry at the Earth

Verse 1 (bhagavata.4.17.1)

मैत्रेय उवाच एवं स भगवान् वैन्यः ख्यापितो गुणकर्मभिः । छन्दयामास तान् कामैः प्रतिपूज्याभिनन्द्य च ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvāca evaṁ sa bhagavān vainyaḥ khyāpito guṇa-karmabhiḥ chandayām āsa tān kāmaiḥ pratipūjyābhinandya ca

Maitreya said: Thus glorified for his virtues and deeds, the illustrious son of Vena honored and welcomed those reciters, and satisfied them by granting gifts according to their wishes.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.4.17.2)

ब्राह्मणप्रमुखान् वर्णान् भृत्यामात्यपुरोधसः । पौराञ्जानपदान् श्रेणीः प्रकृतीः समपूजयत् ॥ २ ॥

brāhmaṇa-pramukhān varṇān bhṛtyāmātya-purodhasaḥ paurāñ jāna-padān śreṇīḥ prakṛtīḥ samapūjayat

He duly honored the social orders headed by the brahmanas, his servants, ministers and priests, the city and country folk, the trade guilds, and all his subjects.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.4.17.3)

विदुर उवाच कस्माद्दधार गोरूपं धरित्री बहुरूपिणी । यां दुदोह पृथुस्तत्र को वत्सो दोहनं च किम् ॥ ३ ॥

vidura uvāca kasmād dadhāra go-rūpaṁ dharitrī bahu-rūpiṇī yāṁ dudoha pṛthus tatra ko vatso dohanaṁ ca kim

Vidura said: Why did the earth, who can assume many forms, take the form of a cow? And when Prithu milked her, who served as the calf there, and what was the milking vessel?

Verse 4 (bhagavata.4.17.4)

प्रकृत्या विषमा देवी कृता तेन समा कथम् । तस्य मेध्यं हयं देवः कस्य हेतोरपाहरत् ॥ ४ ॥

prakṛtyā viṣamā devī kṛtā tena samā katham tasya medhyaṁ hayaṁ devaḥ kasya hetor apāharat

How did he level the earth-goddess, uneven by her very nature? And for what reason did the god Indra carry off his consecrated sacrificial horse?

Verse 5 (bhagavata.4.17.5)

सनत्कुमाराद्भगवतो ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मविदुत्तमात् । लब्ध्वा ज्ञानं सविज्ञानं राजर्षिः कां गतिं गतः ॥ ५ ॥

sanat-kumārād bhagavato brahman brahma-vid-uttamāt labdhvā jñānaṁ sa-vijñānaṁ rājarṣiḥ kāṁ gatiṁ gataḥ

O brahmana, having received that knowledge, together with its direct realization, from the illustrious Sanat-kumara, foremost among knowers of Brahman, what destination did that royal sage attain?

Verse 6 (bhagavata.4.17.6)

यच्चान्यदपि कृष्णस्य भवान् भगवतः प्रभोः । श्रवः सुश्रवसः पुण्यं पूर्वदेहकथाश्रयम् ॥ ६ ॥

yac cānyad api kṛṣṇasya bhavān bhagavataḥ prabhoḥ śravaḥ suśravasaḥ puṇyaṁ pūrva-deha-kathāśrayam

And whatever else — resting on the account of that former incarnation — is auspicious and worthy of hearing about the illustrious Lord Krishna, that too may you narrate.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.4.17.7)

भक्ताय मेऽनुरक्ताय तव चाधोक्षजस्य च । वक्तुमर्हसि योऽदुह्यद्वैन्यरूपेण गामिमाम् ॥ ७ ॥

bhaktāya me ’nuraktāya tava cādhokṣajasya ca vaktum arhasi yo ’duhyad vainya-rūpeṇa gām imām

To me, who am devoted to you and devoted also to Adhokshaja, you should speak of him who, in the form of the son of Vena, milked this earth in the shape of a cow.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.4.17.8)

सूत उवाच चोदितो विदुरेणैवं वासुदेवकथां प्रति । प्रशस्य तं प्रीतमना मैत्रेयः प्रत्यभाषत ॥ ८ ॥

sūta uvāca codito vidureṇaivaṁ vāsudeva-kathāṁ prati praśasya taṁ prīta-manā maitreyaḥ pratyabhāṣata

Suta said: Thus urged by Vidura toward the narrative of Vasudeva, Maitreya, his mind gladdened, praised him and replied.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.4.17.9)

मैत्रेय उवाच यदाभिषिक्तः पृथुरङ्ग विप्रै-रामन्त्रितो जनतायाश्च पालः । प्रजा निरन्ने क्षितिपृष्ठ एत्यक्षुत्क्षामदेहाः पतिमभ्यवोचन् ॥ ९ ॥

maitreya uvāca yadābhiṣiktaḥ pṛthur aṅga viprair āmantrito janatāyāś ca pālaḥ prajā niranne kṣiti-pṛṣṭha etya kṣut-kṣāma-dehāḥ patim abhyavocan

Maitreya said: My dear one, when Prithu had been anointed and summoned by the brahmanas to be the people's protector, his subjects — their bodies wasted with hunger, since the earth's surface had become bare of grain — came before their lord and spoke as follows.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.4.17.10)

वयं राजञ्जाठरेणाभितप्तायथाग्निना कोटरस्थेन वृक्षाः । त्वामद्य याताः शरणं शरण्यंयः साधितो वृत्तिकरः पतिर्नः ॥ १० ॥

vayaṁ rājañ jāṭhareṇābhitaptā yathāgninā koṭara-sthena vṛkṣāḥ tvām adya yātāḥ śaraṇaṁ śaraṇyaṁ yaḥ sādhito vṛtti-karaḥ patir naḥ

O King, we are scorched by the fire in our bellies, just as trees are scorched by fire lodged within their hollow trunks. We have come today for refuge to you, the true refuge, who were established as our lord to provide our livelihood.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.4.17.11)

तन्नो भवानीहतु रातवेऽन्नंक्षुधार्दितानां नरदेवदेव । यावन्न नङ्क्ष्यामह उज्झितोर्जावार्तापतिस्त्वं किल लोकपालः ॥ ११ ॥

tan no bhavān īhatu rātave ’nnaṁ kṣudhārditānāṁ naradeva-deva yāvan na naṅkṣyāmaha ujjhitorjā vārtā-patis tvaṁ kila loka-pālaḥ

Therefore, O god among kings, strive to give food to us who are tormented by hunger, before we perish with our strength spent — for you indeed are the lord of livelihood, the protector of the people.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.4.17.12)

मैत्रेय उवाच पृथुः प्रजानां करुणं निशम्य परिदेवितम् । दीर्घं दध्यौ कुरुश्रेष्ठ निमित्तं सोऽन्वपद्यत ॥ १२ ॥

maitreya uvāca pṛthuḥ prajānāṁ karuṇaṁ niśamya paridevitam dīrghaṁ dadhyau kuruśreṣṭha nimittaṁ so ’nvapadyata

Maitreya said: O best of the Kurus, having heard his subjects' pitiful lament, Prithu reflected deeply for a long while, and then discerned the cause.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.4.17.13)

इति व्यवसितो बुद्ध्या प्रगृहीतशरासनः । सन्दधे विशिखं भूमेः क्रुद्धस्त्रिपुरहा यथा ॥ १३ ॥

iti vyavasito buddhyā pragṛhīta-śarāsanaḥ sandadhe viśikhaṁ bhūmeḥ kruddhas tripura-hā yathā

Having thus resolved in his mind, he took up his bow and, like the wrathful destroyer of Tripura, fitted an arrow aimed at the earth.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.4.17.14)

प्रवेपमाना धरणी निशाम्योदायुधं च तम् । गौः सत्यपाद्रवद्भीता मृगीव मृगयुद्रुता ॥ १४ ॥

pravepamānā dharaṇī niśāmyodāyudhaṁ ca tam gauḥ saty apādravad bhītā mṛgīva mṛgayu-drutā

Seeing him with his weapon raised, the earth began to tremble, and, terrified, fled in the form of a cow, like a doe pursued by a hunter.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.4.17.15)

तामन्वधावत्तद्वैन्यः कुपितोऽत्यरुणेक्षणः । शरं धनुषि सन्धाय यत्र यत्र पलायते ॥ १५ ॥

tām anvadhāvat tad vainyaḥ kupito ’tyaruṇekṣaṇaḥ śaraṁ dhanuṣi sandhāya yatra yatra palāyate

The enraged son of Vena, his eyes reddened, pursued her with arrow fitted to his bow, wherever she fled.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.4.17.16)

सा दिशो विदिशो देवी रोदसी चान्तरं तयोः । धावन्ती तत्र तत्रैनं ददर्शानूद्यतायुधम् ॥ १६ ॥

sā diśo vidiśo devī rodasī cāntaraṁ tayoḥ dhāvantī tatra tatrainaṁ dadarśānūdyatāyudham

That goddess ran through the cardinal and intermediate directions, and through the space between heaven and earth, and wherever she ran, she saw him there behind her, weapon still raised.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.4.17.17)

लोके नाविन्दत त्राणं वैन्यान्मृत्योरिव प्रजाः । त्रस्ता तदा निववृते हृदयेन विदूयता ॥ १७ ॥

loke nāvindata trāṇaṁ vainyān mṛtyor iva prajāḥ trastā tadā nivavṛte hṛdayena vidūyatā

Just as living beings find no shelter anywhere from Death, so she found no shelter anywhere from the son of Vena. Then, terrified, her heart tormented, she turned back.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.4.17.18)

उवाच च महाभागं धर्मज्ञापन्नवत्सल । त्राहि मामपि भूतानां पालनेऽवस्थितो भवान् ॥ १८ ॥

uvāca ca mahā-bhāgaṁ dharma-jñāpanna-vatsala trāhi mām api bhūtānāṁ pālane ’vasthito bhavān

And she said to that most fortunate one: O knower of dharma, affectionate toward those who take refuge in you, protect me too — for you are established here for the protection of all beings.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.4.17.19)

स त्वं जिघांससे कस्माद्दीनामकृतकिल्बिषाम् । अहनिष्यत्कथं योषां धर्मज्ञ इति यो मतः ॥ १९ ॥

sa tvaṁ jighāṁsase kasmād dīnām akṛta-kilbiṣām ahaniṣyat kathaṁ yoṣāṁ dharma-jña iti yo mataḥ

Why then would you wish to kill me, wretched and without any fault? How could one reputed to know dharma slay a woman?

Verse 20 (bhagavata.4.17.20)

प्रहरन्ति न वै स्त्रीषु कृतागःस्वपि जन्तवः । किमुत त्वद्विधा राजन् करुणा दीनवत्सलाः ॥ २० ॥

praharanti na vai strīṣu kṛtāgaḥsv api jantavaḥ kim uta tvad-vidhā rājan karuṇā dīna-vatsalāḥ

Even beasts do not strike at women, even when they have done wrong — how much less would one like you, O King, who are compassionate and tender toward the wretched?

Verse 21 (bhagavata.4.17.21)

मां विपाट्याजरां नावं यत्र विश्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् । आत्मानं च प्रजाश्चेमाः कथमम्भसि धास्यसि ॥ २१ ॥

māṁ vipāṭyājarāṁ nāvaṁ yatra viśvaṁ pratiṣṭhitam ātmānaṁ ca prajāś cemāḥ katham ambhasi dhāsyasi

Once you have split me apart — the ageless vessel on which the whole universe rests — how will you keep yourself and these your subjects afloat upon the waters?

Verse 22 (bhagavata.4.17.22)

पृथुरुवाच वसुधे त्वां वधिष्यामि मच्छासनपराङ्मुखीम् । भागं बर्हिषि या वृङ्क्ते न तनोति च नो वसु ॥ २२ ॥

pṛthur uvāca vasudhe tvāṁ vadhiṣyāmi mac-chāsana-parāṅ-mukhīm bhāgaṁ barhiṣi yā vṛṅkte na tanoti ca no vasu

Prithu said: O Earth, I shall slay you, who have turned your face from my command — you who accept your share at the sacrifice, yet yield up no wealth to us.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.4.17.23)

यवसं जग्ध्यनुदिनं नैव दोग्ध्यौधसं पयः । तस्यामेवं हि दुष्टायां दण्डो नात्र न शस्यते ॥ २३ ॥

yavasaṁ jagdhy anudinaṁ naiva dogdhy audhasaṁ payaḥ tasyām evaṁ hi duṣṭāyāṁ daṇḍo nātra na śasyate

Day after day you graze on grass, yet you never yield the milk of your udder. For one so at fault as this, punishment here is certainly not to be denied.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.4.17.24)

त्वं खल्वोषधिबीजानि प्राक् सृष्टानि स्वयम्भुवा । न मुञ्चस्यात्मरुद्धानि मामवज्ञाय मन्दधीः ॥ २४ ॥

tvaṁ khalv oṣadhi-bījāni prāk sṛṣṭāni svayambhuvā na muñcasy ātma-ruddhāni mām avajñāya manda-dhīḥ

You, dull-witted one, disregarding me, withhold the seeds of herbs and plants that were first created by the self-born Brahma and now lie confined within you.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.4.17.25)

अमूषां क्षुत्परीतानामार्तानां परिदेवितम् । शमयिष्यामि मद्बाणैर्भिन्नायास्तव मेदसा ॥ २५ ॥

amūṣāṁ kṣut-parītānām ārtānāṁ paridevitam śamayiṣyāmi mad-bāṇair bhinnāyās tava medasā

With my arrows I shall put an end to the lament of these people, afflicted and overcome by hunger, using the flesh of your body once it is torn open.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.4.17.26)

पुमान् योषिदुत क्लीब आत्मसम्भावनोऽधमः । भूतेषु निरनुक्रोशो नृपाणां तद्वधोऽवधः ॥ २६ ॥

pumān yoṣid uta klība ātma-sambhāvano ’dhamaḥ bhūteṣu niranukrośo nṛpāṇāṁ tad-vadho ’vadhaḥ

A man, a woman, or even a eunuch who cares only for self-glorification and shows no compassion to other beings — for kings, to kill such a one is no killing at all.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.4.17.27)

त्वां स्तब्धां दुर्मदां नीत्वा मायागां तिलशः शरैः । आत्मयोगबलेनेमा धारयिष्याम्यहं प्रजाः ॥ २७ ॥

tvāṁ stabdhāṁ durmadāṁ nītvā māyā-gāṁ tilaśaḥ śaraiḥ ātma-yoga-balenemā dhārayiṣyāmy ahaṁ prajāḥ

Having cut you, O arrogant and maddened one, illusory cow that you are, to pieces with my arrows, I shall sustain these my subjects by the strength of my own yogic power.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.4.17.28)

एवं मन्युमयीं मूर्तिं कृतान्तमिव बिभ्रतम् । प्रणता प्राञ्जलिः प्राह मही सञ्जातवेपथुः ॥ २८ ॥

evaṁ manyumayīṁ mūrtiṁ kṛtāntam iva bibhratam praṇatā prāñjaliḥ prāha mahī sañjāta-vepathuḥ

To him who, thus assuming a form made wholly of wrath, seemed like Death itself, the earth, trembling all over, bowed low and spoke with joined palms.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.4.17.29)

धरोवाच नमः परस्मै पुरुषाय मायया विन्यस्तनानातनवे गुणात्मने । नमः स्वरूपानुभवेन निर्धुत द्रव्यक्रियाकारकविभ्रमोर्मये ॥ २९ ॥

dharovāca namaḥ parasmai puruṣāya māyayā vinyasta-nānā-tanave guṇātmane namaḥ svarūpānubhavena nirdhuta- dravya-kriyā-kāraka-vibhramormaye

The earth said: Obeisance to the Supreme Person who, by His illusory power, has assumed manifold bodies, who is Himself the essence of the three material qualities. Obeisance to Him in whom, through the direct realization of His own true nature, the surging waves of confusion over matter, action, and the instruments of action have been stilled.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.4.17.30)

येनाहमात्मायतनं विनिर्मिता धात्रा यतोऽयं गुणसर्गसङ्ग्रहः । स एव मां हन्तुमुदायुधः स्वरा- डुपस्थितोऽन्यं शरणं कमाश्रये ॥ ३० ॥

yenāham ātmāyatanaṁ vinirmitā dhātrā yato ’yaṁ guṇa-sarga-saṅgrahaḥ sa eva māṁ hantum udāyudhaḥ svarāḍ upasthito ’nyaṁ śaraṇaṁ kam āśraye

He, the Ordainer, by whom I was fashioned to be the dwelling place of living beings, and from whom this entire assemblage born of the material qualities has arisen — that very same self-ruling Lord now stands before me, weapon raised to strike me down. To what other refuge, then, shall I turn?

Verse 31 (bhagavata.4.17.31)

य एतदादावसृजच्चराचरं स्वमाययात्माश्रययावितर्क्यया । तयैव सोऽयं किल गोप्तुमुद्यतः कथं नु मां धर्मपरो जिघांसति ॥ ३१ ॥

ya etad ādāv asṛjac carācaraṁ sva-māyayātmāśrayayāvitarkyayā tayaiva so ’yaṁ kila goptum udyataḥ kathaṁ nu māṁ dharma-paro jighāṁsati

He who, in the beginning, created this moving and unmoving universe by His own inconceivable illusory power, resting on Himself alone, is now, by that same power, engaged in protecting it. How then can he, upholder of dharma that he is, wish to kill me?

Verse 32 (bhagavata.4.17.32)

नूनं बतेशस्य समीहितं जनै- स्तन्मायया दुर्जययाकृतात्मभिः । न लक्ष्यते यस्त्वकरोदकारयद् योऽनेक एकः परतश्च ईश्वरः ॥ ३२ ॥

nūnaṁ bateśasya samīhitaṁ janais tan-māyayā durjayayākṛtātmabhiḥ na lakṣyate yas tv akarod akārayad yo ’neka ekaḥ parataś ca īśvaraḥ

Surely the intent of the Lord cannot be grasped by ordinary people, their minds unrefined and bewildered by His illusory power, so hard to overcome — He who, though one alone, has both done and caused to be done many deeds, and who stands as Ruler beyond all.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.4.17.33)

सर्गादि योऽस्यानुरुणद्धि शक्तिभि- र्द्रव्यक्रियाकारकचेतनात्मभिः । तस्मै समुन्नद्धनिरुद्धशक्तये नमः परस्मै पुरुषाय वेधसे ॥ ३३ ॥

sargādi yo ’syānuruṇaddhi śaktibhir dravya-kriyā-kāraka-cetanātmabhiḥ tasmai samunnaddha-niruddha-śaktaye namaḥ parasmai puruṣāya vedhase

Obeisance to that Supreme Person, the Ordainer, who through His own powers — of matter, action, the instruments of action, and consciousness — regulates this creation and all that follows from it, powers that surge forth at times and are held in check at others.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.4.17.34)

स वै भवानात्मविनिर्मितं जगद् भूतेन्द्रियान्तःकरणात्मकं विभो । संस्थापयिष्यन्नज मां रसातला- दभ्युज्जहाराम्भस आदिसूकरः ॥ ३४ ॥

sa vai bhavān ātma-vinirmitaṁ jagad bhūtendriyāntaḥ-karaṇātmakaṁ vibho saṁsthāpayiṣyann aja māṁ rasātalād abhyujjahārāmbhasa ādi-sūkaraḥ

It was truly you, O all-pervading, unborn Lord, who once, in order to re-establish this world of Yours — made up of the elements, the senses, and the inner faculty of mind — lifted me up from the depths of the waters, taking the form of the primeval boar.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.4.17.35)

अपामुपस्थे मयि नाव्यवस्थिताः प्रजा भवानद्य रिरक्षिषुः किल । स वीरमूर्तिः समभूद्धराधरो यो मां पयस्युग्रशरो जिघांससि ॥ ३५ ॥

apām upasthe mayi nāvy avasthitāḥ prajā bhavān adya rirakṣiṣuḥ kila sa vīra-mūrtiḥ samabhūd dharā-dharo yo māṁ payasy ugra-śaro jighāṁsasi

It was you who once wished to protect the beings resting upon me, afloat on the waters like a boat. That same heroic form, the upholder of the earth, now wishes, with fierce arrows, to slay me upon the waters.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.4.17.36)

नूनं जनैरीहितमीश्वराणा- मस्मद्विधैस्तद्गुणसर्गमायया । न ज्ञायते मोहितचित्तवर्त्मभि- स्तेभ्यो नमो वीरयशस्करेभ्यः ॥ ३६ ॥

nūnaṁ janair īhitam īśvarāṇām asmad-vidhais tad-guṇa-sarga-māyayā na jñāyate mohita-citta-vartmabhis tebhyo namo vīra-yaśas-karebhyaḥ

Surely the doings of the Lords cannot be understood by beings such as us, our minds bewildered by the illusion born of the play of the material qualities. Obeisance to Him who confers glory upon heroes.