Canto
4
Chapter 17: Prithu Mahârâja Gets Angry with the Earth
(1) Maitreya said: 'After the son of King Vena thus had been glorified for his qualities and actions as a manifestation of the Supreme Lord, he pleased those who had spoken with gifts and honored them with praises. (2) The leaders of the brahmins and the other castes, the servants, the ministers, the priests, the citizens, all his subjects, the different communities and his admirers he all properly respected.'
(3) Vidura said: 'Why did Mother Earth who has so many forms, assume the form of a cow? And with King Prithu milking her, who was there as the calf and what was the milking pot? (4) How leveled he her [the goddess] who by nature is sloped and for what reason stole the godhead (Indra) the sacrificial horse? (5) Oh brahmin, what state was attained by the saintly king after he from the mighty Sanat-kumâra*, who is so well versed in Vedic lore, had received the practical knowledge? (6-7) Please, your goodness, narrate to this so very attentive devotee everything else about the Supreme Personality of Krishna whom we know as Adhokshaja [the One beyond the senses] and who as the son of Vena milked the earth in the form of that cow. It undoubtedly is a pleasure to listen to the stories about him who from the piety of his previous incarnation arrived at such powerful and glorious activities.'
(8) Sûta said: "Maitreya, very pleased with Vidura being so inspired by the narrations about Vâsudeva, thereupon praised him and replied. (9) Maitreya said: 'When King Prithu was enthroned by the brahmins, my best, and declared to be the protector of the people, the citizens suffered a shortage of food. They then, with their bodies emaciated because of the hunger, approached him, the protector of the surface of the earth, in order to inform him.
(10-11) 'Oh King, suffering a hunger that burns like a fire in the hollow of a tree, we today have come to you to take shelter with you. For you are the appointed person and master to be consulted who must give the orders. Please, your Majesty, try therefore to provide us, who suffer from hunger, with food, oh master over all rulers of men. If you do not act as the protector of the people and the leader of the food supply, we will perish!'
(12) Maitreya said: 'Prithu hearing the citizens lament their pitiable condition, for a long time contemplated, oh best of the Kurus, and discovered the cause. (13) With intelligence having arrived at that conclusion he took up his bow and aimed an arrow at the earth, like he was the angry Lord of the three Cities [Lord S'iva who once pierced three fortresses with one arrow]. (14) When the earth saw that he had taken up his bow and arrows, she trembling turned into a cow and fled away, as afraid as a deer chased by a hunter. (15) With his eyes turned red out of anger chasing the cow, the son of Vena then laid an arrow on his bow wherever she fled. (16) Seeing the king coming after her with his weapons raised, the goddess ran randomly in all the four directions, fleeing hither and thither wherever heaven meets earth. (17) Just like man unable to escape from death, she nowhere in the world could escape from the hand of the son of Vena and finally turned back, most scared and very saddened at heart.
(18) She said: 'Since you are now the great one of fortune, oh knower of the dharma, oh shelter of the afflicted souls, please save me. Your Majesty after all, is there for the protection of the living beings. (19) Why do you want to kill someone who is poor and sinless? How can you, whom one considers a knower of the religious principles, wish to kill a woman like me? (20) If no one should ever strike a woman, not even when she is sinful, then what to speak of a personality like you, oh King, a human being so merciful and affectionate to the poor? (21) If you break me, this very strong boat carrying all the world, how can you hold yourself and your people afloat then?'
(22) King Prithu replied: ‘Oh dear source of wealth, if you do not obey my rules, I will have to kill you because you, while accepting your share of the offerings, do not provide us the produce. (23) You eat the greenest grass daily but we are never certain of the milk provided by your udder. Is it not demanded to administer punishment to a cow that is thus indubitably in offense? (24) Not very intelligent disobeying me you do not yield the seeds for the plants, herbs and grains for us, that originally were formed by the Creator but now are hidden by you inside of you. (25) To put an end to the misery of all the distressed who suffer from hunger, I will now cut your flesh to pieces with my arrows. (26) Whether it concerns a man, a woman or an eunuch, kings who kill those who with no compassion for other living beings, as the lowest of all, care only for themselves, do not really kill. (27) You, so foolish and conceited, prove yourself to be a cow of illusion. I will thus with my arrows cut you to pieces as small as grains, for I, by the power of my yoga, will personally uphold all these citizens.'
(28) Being that angry he had assumed the form of death personified. The surrendered planet earth who had to tremble all over, then with folded hands spoke. (29) The earth said: 'My respects for the Transcendence, the Original Person who with the material energy expanded into a variety of forms. Unto that source of qualities I offer my obeisances, unto that original form of Him who, with all of His love and actions, as a doer, Himself is never affected because He is not bewildered by the waves of the ocean of matter. (30) He who created me as an abode for all living beings, as a combination of the different modes and elements, He standing before me now who, in His own right, wishes to kill me with His weapons ready, to what other shelter should I resort but to Him? (31) You as the One who in the beginning by His inconceivable potency created all these moving and nonmoving entities and offered them the protection of His shelter, You who by that same mâyâ now proves to be this king, wishing to offer protection as someone strictly following the principles, how can you desire to kill me? (32) Because of His unconquerable potency the plan of the Supreme Master is never clear to human beings who always fall short. He indeed who by His inconceivable powers and lordship caused the Creator and his creation, is the One within the many. (33) I offer Him my obeisances who is the cause of the creation, dissolution and maintenance of this world, unto Him who by dint of His powers is the cause of the physical elements, the senses and the controlling demigods, the intelligence and the identification with matter, unto Him who manifests and restricts these energies and is the transcendental Original Personality and Cause of all Causes. (34) It was You who factually created this world consisting of the elements, the senses, the mind and the heart, oh Powerful One, oh Unborn One. It was You who as the original boar [Varâha] maintaining me, lifted me from the lower regions out of the water. (35) Having put me on top of the water with the living entities standing upon me as in a boat, You, who indeed want to offer protection, as a hero have become the keeper of the earth. And now You want to kill me with sharp arrows because of [missing] my milk! (36) The ways and activities of Your divine incarnations can surely never be fully understood by living beings like me or by common people whose minds as a consequence of Your energy are bewildered by the modes. My obeisances for all that You are, You who bring renown to the heroes themselves.'
Third revised edition, loaded October 10, 2017.
Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:
Maitreya said: 'After the son of King Vena thus had been glorified for his qualities and actions as a manifestation of the Supreme Lord, he pleased those who had spoken with gifts and honored them with praises.Maitreya said: 'The son of King Vena thus to his qualities and actions glorified as a form of the Supreme Lord, pleased those who spoke with gifts, also himself offering with all respect and prayer. (Vedabase)
The leaders of the brahmins and the other castes, the servants, the ministers, the priests, the citizens, all his subjects, the different communities and his admirers he all properly respected.'
The brahmin leaders, the other castes, the servants, ministers, priests, the citizens, all his subjects, the different communities and his admirers he all properly respected.' (Vedabase)
Vidura said: 'Why did Mother Earth who has so many forms, assume the form of a cow? And with King Prithu milking her, who was there as the calf and what was the milking pot?
Vidura said: 'Why did the earth that has so many forms, take the form of a cow - and with King Prithu milking her, who was there as the calf and also: what was the milking pot? (Vedabase)
How leveled he her [the goddess] who by nature is sloped and for what reason stole the godhead (Indra) the sacrificial horse?
How did he make for the same of worship that is by nature diverse and for what reason did the godhead (Indra) steal the horse of the sacrifice? (Vedabase)
Oh brahmin, what state was attained by the saintly king after he from the mighty Sanat-kumâra*, who is so well versed in Vedic lore, had received the practical knowledge?
O brahmin, after receiving the knowledge about the practice from the mighty Sanat-kumâra * who is so well versed in the lore, what was the goal that the saintly king achieved? (Vedabase)
Please, your goodness, narrate to this so very attentive devotee everything else about the Supreme Personality of Krishna whom we know as Adhokshaja [the One beyond the senses] and who as the son of Vena milked the earth in the form of that cow. It undoubtedly is a pleasure to listen to the stories about him who from the piety of his previous incarnation arrived at such powerful and glorious activities.'
Please, from your kindness to the Supreme Personality of Krishna, do narrate of the Lord also known as Adhokshaja [the one beyond the senses] unto this so very attentive devotee about the milking of that cow by the son of Vena; it must no doubt be pleasing to take to the hearing of the stories about him who out of the piety of his previous incarnation came to such powerful and glorious activities.' (Vedabase)
Sûta said: "Maitreya, very pleased with Vidura being so inspired by the narrations about Vâsudeva, thereupon praised him and replied.
Sûta said: "Thereupon did saint Maitreya, very pleased with the, by the narrations about Vâsudeva, inspired Vidura, praise him and reply. (Vedabase)
Maitreya said: 'When King Prithu was enthroned by the brahmins, my best, and declared to be the protector of the people, the citizens suffered a shortage of food. They then, with their bodies emaciated because of the hunger, approached him, the protector of the surface of the earth, in order to inform him.
Maitreya said: 'When King Prithu was enthroned by the brahmins, my best, and declared to be also the protector of the people, suffered the citizens a shortage of food and with their bodies emaciated of hunger they approached him to inform him, the protector of the surface of the earth. (Vedabase)
'O King, suffering a hunger that burns like a fire in the hollow of a tree, we today have come to you to take shelter with you. For you are the appointed person and master to be consulted who must give the orders. Please your Majesty, try therefore to provide us, who suffer from hunger, with food, oh master over all rulers of men. If you do not act as the protector of the people and the leader of the food supply, we will perish!'
'We, o King, suffering a hunger that burns like a fire in the hollow of a tree, have as such trees today come to you to take shelter with you as you are the appointed master worth the consulting to engage us in the labor. Therefore, please Your Majesty, try to provide the food to us who suffer with hunger, o master over all rulers of men; lest you act as the protector of the people engaging all of us distributing the food, we will perish!' (Vedabase)
Maitreya said: 'Prithu hearing the citizens lament their pitiable condition, for a long time contemplated, oh best of the Kurus, and discovered the cause.
Maitreya said: 'Prithu overhearing the citizens lamenting their pitiable condition, for a long time contemplated, o best of the Kurus, and figured out the cause. (Vedabase)
With intelligence having arrived at that conclusion he took up his bow and aimed an arrow at the earth, like he was the angry Lord of the three Cities [Lord S'iva who once pierced three fortresses with one arrow].
With that conclusion he with intelligence took up his bow and fixed, as the angry Lord of the three Cities [Lord S'iva who once pierced three fortresses with one arrow], an arrow on it aimed at the earth. (Vedabase)
When the earth saw that he had taken up his bow and arrows, she trembling turned into a cow and fled away, as afraid as a deer chased by a hunter.
When the earth saw that he had taken up his bow and arrows, fled she, having turned into a cow, trembling away as afraid as a deer chased by a hunter. (Vedabase)
With his eyes turned red out of anger chasing the cow, the son of Vena then laid an arrow on his bow wherever she fled.
With his eyes fiery red of anger chasing it then, had the son of Vena an arrow laid on his bow wherever she fled. (Vedabase)
Seeing the king coming after her with his weapons raised, the goddess ran randomly in all the four directions, fleeing hither and thither wherever heaven meets earth.
Seeing the king coming after her with his weapons raised, ran she randomly in all the four directions, fleeing hither and thither in between the space of heaven and earth. (Vedabase)
Just like man unable to escape from death, she nowhere in the world could escape from the hand of the son of Vena and finally turned back, most scared and very saddened at heart.
In all the world, just like man unable to escape from death, not being able to escape from the hand of the son of Vena, she finally came back, very scared and very saddened at heart.(Vedabase)
She said: 'Since you are now the great one of fortune, oh knower of the dharma, oh shelter of the afflicted souls, please save me. Your Majesty after all, is there for the protection of the living beings.
She said: 'Since you are now the great one of fortune, o knower of the religion, o shelter of the afflicted, please save me; for Your Majesty is there for the protection of the living. (Vedabase)
Text 19
Why do you want to kill someone who is poor and sinless? How can you, whom one considers a knower of the religious principles, wish to kill a woman like me?
Why is it that you want to kill the very person that is without sin; how could you want to kill a woman like me - you, whom one considers to be the knower of the principles? (Vedabase)
If no one should ever strike a woman, not even when she is sinful, then what to speak of a personality like you, oh King, a human being so merciful and affectionate to the poor?
If for sure no one should ever strike a woman, not even if she is of sin, then what to speak of a personality like you, o King, a human being so full of mercy and affection for the poor? (Vedabase)
If you break me, this very strong boat carrying all the world, how can you hold yourself and your people afloat then?'
If you break me in pieces, then how will this very strong boat carrying all the things of the world, hold you as well as all the people afloat?' (Vedabase)
King Prithu replied: ‘Oh dear source of wealth, if you do not obey my rules, I will have to kill you because you, while accepting your share of the offerings, do not provide us the produce.
King Prithu replied: 'O dear source of wealth, with you not obeying my rules I will have to kill you; for you, accepting your share of the offerings, do not provide us with the plenty. (Vedabase)
You eat the greenest grass daily but we are never certain of the milk provided by your udder. Is it not demanded to administer punishment to a cow that is thus indubitably in offense?
You eat the greenest grass daily but we are never certain of the milk provided by your udder, is it then not commanded to administer punishment to a cow thus indubitable of offense? (Vedabase)
Not very intelligent disobeying me you do not yield the seeds for the plants, herbs and grains for us, that originally were formed by the Creator but now are hidden by you inside of you.
Not very intelligent disobeying me do you for sure not deliver us the seeds for the plants, herbs and grains which before were formed by the Creator but now by you are hidden inside of you. (Vedabase)
To put an end to the misery of all the distressed who suffer from hunger, I will now cut your flesh to pieces with my arrows.
To pacify the lamentation of all the distressed suffering from hunger, will I now cut your flesh to pieces with my arrows. (Vedabase)
Whether it concerns a man, a woman or an eunuch, kings who kill those who with no compassion for other living beings, as the lowest of all, care only for themselves, do not really kill.
Whether a man, a woman or an eunuch, the rulers killing him who as the lowest is after his own self-interest with no compassion for other living beings, are not really killing. (Vedabase)
You, so foolish and conceited, prove yourself to be a cow of illusion. I will thus with my arrows cut you to pieces as small as grains, for I, by the power of my yoga, will personally uphold all these citizens.'
You, crazy and imagined, show yourselves as a cow of delusion; with my arrows I will cut you to pieces as small as grains; by the power of my yoga I will personally uphold all these citizens.' (Vedabase)
Being that angry he had assumed the form of death personified. The surrendered planet earth who had to tremble all over, then with folded hands spoke.
Being that angry he had assumed the form of death personified. The surrendered planet earth, that had begun to tremble all over, then with folded hands spoke. (Vedabase)
The earth said: 'My respects for the Transcendence, the Original Person who with the material energy expanded into a variety of forms. Unto that source of qualities I offer my obeisances, unto that original form of Him who, with all of His love and actions, as a doer, Himself is never affected because He is not bewildered by the waves of the ocean of matter.
The earth said: 'My respects for the Transcendence, the Original Person who by the material energy expanded into a variety of forms; unto the source of the qualities I offer my obeisances, to the real form who, after His love and His actions, as a doer Himself is not affected by bewilderment from the waves of the ocean of matter. (Vedabase)
He who created me as an abode for all living beings, as a combination of the different modes and elements, He standing before me now who, in His own right, wishes to kill me with His weapons ready, to what other shelter should I resort but to Him?
He, the resting place of all living entities, on account of whom this earth as a combination of the different modes and elements and I myself were created; He in His own right, ready with His weapons before me, surely may kill me - what other shelter should I resort to but Him? (Vedabase)
You as the One who in the beginning by His inconceivable potency created all these moving and nonmoving entities and offered them the protection of His shelter, You who by that same mâyâ now proves to be this king, wishing to offer protection as someone strictly following the principles, how can you desire to kill me?
As the One who created these moving and nonmoving entities in the beginning from His own potency and offered the protection of His own shelter; You, who are in truth inconceivable and by that same mâyâ now proves to be him, this king; how can You, prepared to protect as someone strict to the principles, desire to kill me? (Vedabase)
Because of His unconquerable potency the plan of the Supreme Master is never clear to human beings who always fall short. He indeed who by His inconceivable powers and lordship caused the Creator and his creation, is the One within the many.
Surely is no doubt, because of His unconquerable potency, the plan of the Supreme Master never clear to people with little experience; He who then created and causes to create, is by His inconceivable powers and Lordship, the One in the many. (Vedabase)
I offer Him my obeisances who is the cause of the creation, dissolution and maintenance of this world, unto Him who by dint of His powers is the cause of the physical elements, the senses and the controlling demigods, the intelligence and the identification with matter, unto Him who manifests and restricts these energies and is the transcendental Original Personality and Cause of all Causes.
To the One who by His own potency is the cause of the creation, dissolution and maintenance of this world, of the physical elements, senses and controlling demigods, the intelligence and the identification with the matter, unto Him manifesting His potential with all these energies, unto that Transcendental Original Personality and cause of all causes, I offer my obeisances. (Vedabase)
It was You who factually created this world consisting of the elements, the senses, the mind and the heart, oh Powerful One, oh Unborn One. It was You who as the original boar [Varâha] maintaining me, lifted me from the lower regions out of the water.
It was You who factually created this world consisting of the elements, senses mind and heart, o Powerful One, o Unborn One; it was You who as the original boar [Varâha] maintaining me, took me out of the water from the lower regions. (Vedabase)
Having put me on top of the water with the living entities standing upon me as in a boat, You, who indeed want to offer protection, as a hero have become the keeper of the earth. And now You want to kill me with sharp arrows because of [missing] my milk!
Having put me on top of the water, with the living entities standing upon me as in a boat, have You indeed desirous to protect, in the form of a hero become the keeper of the earth - yet You now want to kill me with sharp arrows because of missing the milk. (Vedabase)
The ways and activities of Your divine incarnations can surely never be fully understood by living beings like me or by common people whose minds as a consequence of Your energy are bewildered by the modes. My obeisances for all that You are, You who bring renown to the heroes themselves.'
Indeed are, like it is with me, by the common people, by those of whom, from the modes being a product of Your energy, the minds are bewildered, the ways and activities of Your controllers never fully understood; my respects for all of them and for You who brings renown to the heroes themselves.' (Vedabase)
*: Today there are four main disciplic successions in India: the Kumâra-, Brahmâ-, Lakshmî- and S'iva-sampradâyas. This present translation has originated from the Brahmâ-sampradâya.
The text and audio are offered under the conditions of
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Unported License.
The painting is
titled: 'Prthu chases the goddess earth',
from an illustrated manuscript of the Bhagavata Purana Indian, Pahari,
about 1740
Attributed to: Manaku, Indian, about 1700–1760. Source: Museum of Fine Art, Boston.
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