Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.17.23
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyReceiving Support Brings Responsibility
“Although you are eating green grass every day, you are not filling your milk bag so we can utilize your milk. Since you are willfully committing offenses, it cannot be said that you are not punishable due to your assuming the form of a cow.”
What the purport teaches
- A cow eats green grass and supplies milk for the cowherdsmen. The earth was receiving her share of the yajñas but was not producing sufficient food grains in return.
- Yajñas are performed to produce sufficient clouds and rainfall. The word payaḥ can refer to both milk and water.
- Pṛthu Mahārāja considered the earth responsible for withholding food. Her assuming the form of a cow did not excuse her offense.
Try this today
Complete one small responsibility today for someone whose support you receive.
Ask yourself
How am I fulfilling my responsibilities toward those who support me?
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.