Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.17.19
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyThe Earth Appeals to Religious Protection
“The cow-shaped earth continued to appeal to the King: I am very poor and have not committed any sinful activities. I do not know why you want to kill me. Since you are supposed to be the knower of all religious principles, why are you so envious of me, and why are you so anxious to kill a woman?”
What the purport teaches
- The earth described herself as poor and free from sinful activities. She asked why the King wanted to kill her.
- Her appeal rested on two grounds: her innocence and her being a woman. The purport explains that a king who knows religious principles cannot kill an innocent person.
- The purport also states that a woman is not to be killed even if she commits sinful activities. The earth therefore argued that the King should spare her.
Try this today
Before judging someone today, give them an opportunity to explain their actions.
Ask yourself
Do I listen carefully when someone appeals against unfair treatment?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.