Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 7.4.16
Sthāna· The universe in orderAbundance Under Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Rule
“As if in fear of Hiraṇyakaśipu, the planet earth, which consists of seven islands, delivered food grains without being plowed. Thus it resembled cows like the surabhi of the spiritual world or the kāma-dughā of heaven. The earth yielded sufficient food grains, the cows supplied abundant milk, and outer space was beautifully decorated with wonderful phenomena.”
What the purport teaches
- The earth, consisting of seven islands, produced food grains without being plowed, as if in fear of Hiraṇyakaśipu.
- The earth yielded sufficient grains, and the cows supplied abundant milk. This abundance resembled that of the surabhi cows of the spiritual world or the kāma-dughā cows of heaven.
- Outer space was beautifully decorated with wonderful phenomena. The description shows the extraordinary abundance during Hiraṇyakaśipu’s rule.
Try this today
At one meal today, pause to notice the food supplied by the earth.
Ask yourself
Which detail in this description helps you appreciate the abundance supplied by the earth and cows?
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.