Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.17.21
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionProtect the Earth That Supports Everyone
“The cow-shaped earth continued: My dear King, I am just like a strong boat, and all the paraphernalia of the world is standing upon me. If you break me to pieces, how can you protect yourself and your subjects from drowning?”
What the purport teaches
- The earth compared herself to a strong boat supporting all the world's paraphernalia. Breaking that boat would endanger both the King and his subjects.
- The purport explains that Lord Viṣṇu lies on the garbha water. A lotus stem grows from His abdomen and supports the planets floating in the air.
- A destroyed planet would fall into the garbha water, so destroying the earth would bring no gain. The purport compares outer space to an ocean of air and planets to boats or islands.
Try this today
Take care of one shared resource today rather than damaging or wasting it.
Ask yourself
Before acting, do I consider how damaging a shared support could harm others?
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.