Canto
4
Chapter 17: Mahārāja Prithu Becomes Angry at the Earth
(1) 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. (2) 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.'
(3) 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? (4) 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? (5) O brahmin, after receiving the knowledge about the practice from the mighty Sanat-kumāra * who is so well versed in the lore, what was the goal that the saintly king achieved? (6-7) 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.'
(8) Sūta said: "Thereupon did saint Maitreya, very pleased with the, by the narrations about Vāsudeva, inspired Vidura, praise him and reply. (9) 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.
(10-11) '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!'
(12) 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. (13) 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. (14) 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. (15) With his eyes fiery red of anger chasing it then, had the son of Vena an arrow laid on his bow wherever she fled. (16) 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. (17) 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.
(18) 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. (19) 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? (20) 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? (21) 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?'
(22) 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. (23) 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? (24) 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. (25) To pacify the lamentation of all the distressed suffering from hunger, will I now cut your flesh to pieces with my arrows. (26) 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. (27) 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.'
(28) 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. (29) 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. (30) 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? (31) 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 māyā now proves to be him, this king; how can You, prepared to protect as someone strict to the principles, desire to kill me? (32) 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. (33) 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. (34) 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 [Varāha] maintaining me, took me out of the water from the lower regions. (35) 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. (36) 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.'
Second edition, loaded 26 October 2006
Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:
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.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 brahmin leaders, the other castes, the servants, ministers, 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 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?
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 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?
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)
O brahmin, after receiving the knowledge about the practice from the mighty Sanat-kumāra * who is so well versed in the lore, what was the goal that the saintly king achieved?
O brahmin, after receiving the knowledge about the practice from the mighty Sanat Kumāra * who is so well versed in the lore, what was the goal that the saintly king achieved? (Vedabase)
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.'
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)
Sūta said: "Thereupon did saint Maitreya, very pleased with the, by the narrations about Vāsudeva, inspired Vidura, praise him and reply.
Sūta said: "Thereupon did saint Maitreya, very pleased with the, by the narrations about Vāsudeva, inspired Vidura, praise him and reply. (Vedabase)
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.
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)
'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!'
'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 overhearing the citizens lamenting their pitiable condition, for a long time contemplated, o best of the Kurus, and figured out the cause.
Maitreya said: 'Prithu overhearing the citizens laminating their pitiable condition, for a long time contemplated, o best of the Kuru's, and found out about the cause. (Vedabase)
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.
With that conclusion he with intelligence took up his bow and as the angry Lord of the three Cities [Lord S'iva who once pierced three fortresses with one arrow] fixed an arrow on it directed at the earth. (Vedabase)
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.
As the earth saw him having taken up his bow and arrows, she, trembling, having turned into cow, fled very much afraid like a deer chased by a hunter. (Vedabase)
With his eyes fiery red of anger chasing it then, had the son of Vena an arrow laid on his bow wherever she fled.
Chasing it then the son of Vena, with his eyes terribly red of anger, had an arrow laid on his bow wherever she fled. (Vedabase)
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.
Seeing the king coming after her with his weapons taken up, it ran randomly in all the four directions, fleeing hither and thither in between the space of heaven and earth. (Vedabase)
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.
In all the world not being able to escape from the hand of the son of Vena, just like men is not able to escape from death, it at that time very scared and very saddened at heart turned back. (Vedabase)
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.
She said: 'As you are now the great One of Fortune, o knower of the religion, o shelter of the afflicted, save me; Your Majesty is indeed there for the protection of the living. (Vedabase)
Text 19
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?
Why is it that you want to kill the very person that is without sin; how could you want to kill a female like me - you, whom one considers to be the knower of the principles? (Vedabase)
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?
Certainly, if no one should ever strike a woman even if she is of sin, then what to speak of a human being, a personality like you, o King, so full of mercy and affection for the poor? (Vedabase)
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?'
If you break me in pieces, then how will this very strong boat, which keeps up all the things of the world, hold you as well as all the people on the water? (Vedabase)
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.
King Prithu replied: 'O dear source of wealth, not obeying my rules I will have to kill you; as 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 then not commanded to administer punishment to a cow thus indubitable of offense?
You eat the greenest grass daily but we are never certain of your yielding the milk of your udder, is it then not advised to administer a cow that is thus undoubted in offense, punishment? (Vedabase)
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.
Disobeying me you, of a lesser intelligence, certainly do not give us the seeds for the plants, herbs and grain that before were formed by the Creator and are now by you hidden within yourself. (Vedabase)
To pacify the lamentation of all the distressed suffering from hunger, will I now cut your flesh to pieces with my arrows.
The lamentation of all the distressed suffering from hunger, I will now pacify cutting your flesh with my arrows to pieces. (Vedabase)
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.
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, 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.
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, that had begun to tremble all over, then with folded hands spoke.
Being that angry he had 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 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.
The earth said: 'My respects for the Transcendence, the person that 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, 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?
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, may surely kill me - what other shelter should I resort to but Him? (Vedabase)
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 māyā now proves to be him, this king; how can You, prepared to protect as someone strict to the principles, desire to kill me?
As the One who created these moving and nonmoving entities in the beginning from His own potency, giving the protection of Your own shelter; You, who are in truth inconceivable and by that same māyā now proves to be him, this king; how can You, prepared to protect as someone strict to the principles, desire to kill me? (Vedabase)
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.
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, causing to create, is by His inconceivable powers and Lordship, the One in the many. (Vedabase)
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.
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, senses mind and heart, o Powerful One, o Unborn One; it was You who as the original boar [Varāha] maintaining me, took me out of the water from the lower regions.
It was You who factually created this world consisting of the elements, senses mind and heart, o Powerful One, o Unborn One, maintaining me, taking me out of the water from the lower regions, as the original boar [Varāha]. (Vedabase)
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.
Having put me on top of the water, with the living entities and him now standing upon me as in a boat, indeed desiring to protect, has He 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)
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.'
Indeed are, like it is with me, by the common people, by those whose minds are bewildered being of the modes a product of Your energy, the ways and activities of Your controllers never fully understood; unto all of them and You who brings renown to the heroes themselves, my obeisances. (Vedabase)
* Today there are four main disciplic successions in India: the Kumāra-,Brahmā-, Lakshmī- and S'iva- sampradāyas. This underlying translation has originated from the Brahmā-sampradāya.
For
this original translation a one-volume printed copy
has been used with an extensive commentary.
ISBN: o-91277-27-7
See the
S'rīmad Bhāgavatam
links-page.
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.
Production: Filognostic
Association
of The
Order of Time
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