Prithu Milks the Earth

Verse 1 (bhagavata.4.18.1)

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

maitreya uvāca itthaṁ pṛthum abhiṣṭūya ruṣā prasphuritādharam punar āhāvanir bhītā saṁstabhyātmānam ātmanā

Maitreya said: Having thus praised Prithu, whose lips still quivered with anger, the earth, though frightened, steadied herself and spoke once more.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.4.18.2)

सन्नियच्छाभिभो मन्युं निबोध श्रावितं च मे । सर्वतः सारमादत्ते यथा मधुकरो बुधः ॥ २ ॥

sanniyacchābhibho manyuṁ nibodha śrāvitaṁ ca me sarvataḥ sāram ādatte yathā madhu-karo budhaḥ

O lord, restrain your wrath and hear what I have to say — for, like the bee gathering honey, a wise man draws the essence from everything, everywhere.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.4.18.3)

अस्मिँल्लोकेऽथवामुष्मिन्मुनिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः । दृष्टा योगाः प्रयुक्ताश्च पुंसां श्रेयःप्रसिद्धये ॥ ३ ॥

asmil loke ’thavāmuṣmin munibhis tattva-darśibhiḥ dṛṣṭā yogāḥ prayuktāś ca puṁsāṁ śreyaḥ-prasiddhaye

For this world or for the next, sages who see the truth have discerned and applied various means for the attainment of people's true good.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.4.18.4)

तानातिष्ठति यः सम्यगुपायान् पूर्वदर्शितान् । अवरः श्रद्धयोपेत उपेयान् विन्दतेऽञ्जसा ॥ ४ ॥

tān ātiṣṭhati yaḥ samyag upāyān pūrva-darśitān avaraḥ śraddhayopeta upeyān vindate ’ñjasā

Whoever, even one of lesser ability, rightly follows those means shown by the sages of old, endowed with faith, easily attains the goals worth attaining.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.4.18.5)

ताननादृत्य योऽविद्वानर्थानारभते स्वयम् । तस्य व्यभिचरन्त्यर्था आरब्धाश्च पुनः पुनः ॥ ५ ॥

tān anādṛtya yo ’vidvān arthān ārabhate svayam tasya vyabhicaranty arthā ārabdhāś ca punaḥ punaḥ

But the unwise person who disregards those means and undertakes his affairs on his own — his endeavors go astray again and again, however many times begun.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.4.18.6)

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

purā sṛṣṭā hy oṣadhayo brahmaṇā yā viśāmpate bhujyamānā mayā dṛṣṭā asadbhir adhṛta-vrataiḥ

O lord of the people, the herbs and plants created long ago by Brahma — I saw them being consumed by the wicked, men who kept no vows.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.4.18.7)

अपालितानादृता च भवद्भिर्लोकपालकैः । चोरीभूतेऽथ लोकेऽहं यज्ञार्थेऽग्रसमोषधीः ॥ ७ ॥

apālitānādṛtā ca bhavadbhir loka-pālakaiḥ corī-bhūte ’tha loke ’haṁ yajñārthe ’grasam oṣadhīḥ

Unprotected and disregarded by you, the guardians of the people, and with the world having turned to thievery, I swallowed up the herbs meant for sacrifice.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.4.18.8)

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

nūnaṁ tā vīrudhaḥ kṣīṇā mayi kālena bhūyasā tatra yogena dṛṣṭena bhavān ādātum arhati

Surely those plants, held within me for so long a time, have grown depleted. You should therefore draw them out again by the method the sages have taught.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.4.18.9)

वत्सं कल्पय मे वीर येनाहं वत्सला तव । धोक्ष्ये क्षीरमयान्कामाननुरूपं च दोहनम् ॥ ९ ॥

vatsaṁ kalpaya me vīra yenāhaṁ vatsalā tava dhokṣye kṣīramayān kāmān anurūpaṁ ca dohanam

O hero, appoint a calf for me, so that, being affectionate toward it, I may yield to you the milk of your desires — and provide also a fitting vessel for the milking.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.4.18.10)

दोग्धारं च महाबाहो भूतानां भूतभावन । अन्नमीप्सितमूर्जस्वद्भगवान् वाञ्छते यदि ॥ १० ॥

dogdhāraṁ ca mahā-bāho bhūtānāṁ bhūta-bhāvana annam īpsitam ūrjasvad bhagavān vāñchate yadi

And, O mighty-armed one, nurturer of beings, appoint also a milker — if you, my lord, desire the nourishing food you seek.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.4.18.11)

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

samāṁ ca kuru māṁ rājan deva-vṛṣṭaṁ yathā payaḥ apartāv api bhadraṁ te upāvarteta me vibho

And make me level, O King, so that, for your benefit, O lord, the water sent by the god of rain may settle upon me even out of season.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.4.18.12)

इति प्रियं हितं वाक्यं भुव आदाय भूपतिः । वत्सं कृत्वा मनुं पाणावदुहत्सकलौषधीः ॥ १२ ॥

iti priyaṁ hitaṁ vākyaṁ bhuva ādāya bhūpatiḥ vatsaṁ kṛtvā manuṁ pāṇāv aduhat sakalauṣadhīḥ

Having accepted this pleasing and beneficial word from the earth, the king, making Manu the calf, milked out all the herbs and plants with his own cupped hands.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.4.18.13)

तथापरे च सर्वत्र सारमाददते बुधाः । ततोऽन्ये च यथाकामं दुदुहुः पृथुभाविताम् ॥ १३ ॥

tathāpare ca sarvatra sāram ādadate budhāḥ tato ’nye ca yathā-kāmaṁ duduhuḥ pṛthu-bhāvitām

So too, elsewhere, the wise everywhere took the essence of things; and after that, others as well milked her — now made receptive through Prithu — each according to his own desire.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.4.18.14)

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

ṛṣayo duduhur devīm indriyeṣv atha sattama vatsaṁ bṛhaspatiṁ kṛtvā payaś chandomayaṁ śuci

O best of the virtuous, the sages, making Brihaspati the calf and the senses the vessel, milked from that goddess the pure milk consisting of the Vedic hymns.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.4.18.15)

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

kṛtvā vatsaṁ sura-gaṇā indraṁ somam adūduhan hiraṇmayena pātreṇa vīryam ojo balaṁ payaḥ

The hosts of gods, making Indra the calf, milked with a golden vessel the soma-milk of vigor, vitality, and strength.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.4.18.16)

दैतेया दानवा वत्सं प्रह्लादमसुरर्षभम् । विधायादूदुहन् क्षीरमयःपात्रे सुरासवम् ॥ १६ ॥

daiteyā dānavā vatsaṁ prahlādam asurarṣabham vidhāyādūduhan kṣīram ayaḥ-pātre surāsavam

The Daityas and Danavas, making Prahlada, foremost among the asuras, their calf, milked with an iron vessel the milk that was intoxicating wine.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.4.18.17)

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

gandharvāpsaraso ’dhukṣan pātre padmamaye payaḥ vatsaṁ viśvāvasuṁ kṛtvā gāndharvaṁ madhu saubhagam

The Gandharvas and Apsarases, making Vishvavasu their calf, milked into a lotus vessel the milk of sweet, graceful music.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.4.18.18)

वत्सेन पितरोऽर्यम्णा कव्यं क्षीरमधुक्षत । आमपात्रे महाभागाः श्रद्धया श्राद्धदेवताः ॥ १८ ॥

vatsena pitaro ’ryamṇā kavyaṁ kṣīram adhukṣata āma-pātre mahā-bhāgāḥ śraddhayā śrāddha-devatāḥ

The most fortunate Pitris, deities presiding over the shraddha rites, with Aryama as their calf, milked with faith the milk of ancestral offering, into an unbaked clay vessel.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.4.18.19)

प्रकल्प्य वत्सं कपिलं सिद्धाः सङ्कल्पनामयीम् । सिद्धिं नभसि विद्यां च ये च विद्याधरादयः ॥ १९ ॥

prakalpya vatsaṁ kapilaṁ siddhāḥ saṅkalpanāmayīm siddhiṁ nabhasi vidyāṁ ca ye ca vidyādharādayaḥ

The Siddhas, making Kapila their calf and the sky their vessel, milked the perfection born of will; and the Vidyadharas and others milked out their special powers of knowledge.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.4.18.20)

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

anye ca māyino māyām antardhānādbhutātmanām mayaṁ prakalpya vatsaṁ te duduhur dhāraṇāmayīm

And other masters of illusion, making Maya their calf, milked out the wondrous power of illusion — the capacity to vanish from sight at will.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.4.18.21)

यक्षरक्षांसि भूतानि पिशाचाः पिशिताशनाः । भूतेशवत्सा दुदुहुः कपाले क्षतजासवम् ॥ २१ ॥

yakṣa-rakṣāṁsi bhūtāni piśācāḥ piśitāśanāḥ bhūteśa-vatsā duduhuḥ kapāle kṣatajāsavam

The Yakshas, Rakshasas, spirits, and flesh-eating Pishachas, with an incarnation of Bhutesha, Lord of Spirits, as their calf, milked into a skull the intoxicating drink of blood.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.4.18.22)

तथाहयो दन्दशूकाः सर्पा नागाश्च तक्षकम् । विधाय वत्सं दुदुहुर्बिलपात्रे विषं पयः ॥ २२ ॥

tathāhayo dandaśūkāḥ sarpā nāgāś ca takṣakam vidhāya vatsaṁ duduhur bila-pātre viṣaṁ payaḥ

So too the biting serpents, snakes, and Nagas, making Takshaka their calf, milked into a burrow-vessel the venomous milk.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.4.18.23)

पशवो यवसं क्षीरं वत्सं कृत्वा च गोवृषम् । अरण्यपात्रे चाधुक्षन्मृगेन्द्रेण च दंष्ट्रिणः ॥ २३ ॥

paśavo yavasaṁ kṣīraṁ vatsaṁ kṛtvā ca go-vṛṣam araṇya-pātre cādhukṣan mṛgendreṇa ca daṁṣṭriṇaḥ

The grazing beasts, making the bull their calf, milked green grass as their milk into the vessel of the forest; and the fanged beasts of prey, with the lion as their calf, milked flesh.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.4.18.24)

क्रव्यादाः प्राणिनः क्रव्यं दुदुहुः स्वे कलेवरे । सुपर्णवत्सा विहगाश्चरं चाचरमेव च ॥ २४ ॥

kravyādāḥ prāṇinaḥ kravyaṁ duduhuḥ sve kalevare suparṇa-vatsā vihagāś caraṁ cācaram eva ca

Flesh-eating creatures milked out flesh, taking their own bodies as the vessel; and the birds, with Garuda as their calf, milked out both moving and unmoving creatures as their food.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.4.18.25)

वटवत्सा वनस्पतयः पृथग्रसमयं पयः । गिरयो हिमवद्वत्सा नानाधातून् स्वसानुषु ॥ २५ ॥

vaṭa-vatsā vanaspatayaḥ pṛthag rasamayaṁ payaḥ girayo himavad-vatsā nānā-dhātūn sva-sānuṣu

The trees, with the banyan as their calf, milked their own particular sap as milk; the mountains, with the Himalaya as calf, milked various minerals into their own peaks.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.4.18.26)

सर्वे स्वमुख्यवत्सेन स्वे स्वे पात्रे पृथक् पयः । सर्वकामदुघां पृथ्वीं दुदुहुः पृथुभाविताम् ॥ २६ ॥

sarve sva-mukhya-vatsena sve sve pātre pṛthak payaḥ sarva-kāma-dughāṁ pṛthvīṁ duduhuḥ pṛthu-bhāvitām

Thus all beings, each with its own chief representative as calf, milked their own particular milk into their own particular vessel, from the earth — giver of all desires, made receptive through Prithu.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.4.18.27)

एवं पृथ्वादयः पृथ्वीमन्नादाः स्वन्नमात्मनः । दोहवत्सादिभेदेन क्षीरभेदं कुरूद्वह ॥ २७ ॥

evaṁ pṛthv-ādayaḥ pṛthvīm annādāḥ svannam ātmanaḥ doha-vatsādi-bhedena kṣīra-bhedaṁ kurūdvaha

Thus, O foremost of the Kurus, Prithu and all other eaters of food drew their own respective nourishment from the earth, the milk differing according to the milker, the calf, and the vessel used.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.4.18.28)

ततो महीपतिः प्रीतः सर्वकामदुघां पृथुः । दुहितृत्वे चकारेमां प्रेम्णा दुहितृवत्सलः ॥ २८ ॥

tato mahīpatiḥ prītaḥ sarva-kāma-dughāṁ pṛthuḥ duhitṛtve cakāremāṁ premṇā duhitṛ-vatsalaḥ

Then Prithu, lord of the earth, well pleased with her who yielded all desires, took her to himself as a daughter, out of love, being tender toward her as toward a daughter.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.4.18.29)

चूर्णयन् स्वधनुष्कोट्या गिरिकूटानि राजराट् । भूमण्डलमिदं वैन्यः प्रायश्चक्रे समं विभुः ॥ २९ ॥

cūrṇayan sva-dhanuṣ-koṭyā giri-kūṭāni rāja-rāṭ bhū-maṇḍalam idaṁ vainyaḥ prāyaś cakre samaṁ vibhuḥ

Crushing the mountain peaks with the tip of his own bow, the son of Vena, sovereign king of kings, made this entire circle of the earth almost level.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.4.18.30)

अथास्मिन् भगवान् वैन्यः प्रजानां वृत्तिदः पिता । निवासान् कल्पयां चक्रे तत्र तत्र यथार्हतः ॥ ३० ॥

athāsmin bhagavān vainyaḥ prajānāṁ vṛttidaḥ pitā nivāsān kalpayāṁ cakre tatra tatra yathārhataḥ

Thereupon, upon this leveled earth, the illustrious son of Vena — a father to his subjects in providing their livelihood — arranged dwelling places here and there, as was fitting.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.4.18.31)

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

grāmān puraḥ pattanāni durgāṇi vividhāni ca ghoṣān vrajān sa-śibirān ākarān kheṭa-kharvaṭān

Villages, cities, and towns, and forts of various kinds; cowherd settlements, cattle-pens with their encampments, mines, and market towns and hamlets — all these he established.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.4.18.32)

प्राक्पृथोरिह नैवैषा पुरग्रामादिकल्पना । यथासुखं वसन्ति स्म तत्र तत्राकुतोभयाः ॥ ३२ ॥

prāk pṛthor iha naivaiṣā pura-grāmādi-kalpanā yathā-sukhaṁ vasanti sma tatra tatrākutobhayāḥ

Before Prithu's time, there existed here no such planning of towns, villages, and the like; people used to settle wherever they pleased, at ease, without fear of anything in particular.