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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 4 · Chapter 17: Mahārāja Pṛthu Becomes Angry at the Earth
4.17.134.17.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.14

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.17.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

प्रवेपमाना धरणी निशाम्योदायुधं च तम् । गौ: सत्यपाद्रवद्भीता मृगीव मृगयुद्रुता ॥ १४ ॥

pravepamānā dharaṇī

niśāmyodāyudhaṁ ca tam

gauḥ saty apādravad bhītā

mṛgīva mṛgayu-drutā

Translation

When the earth saw that King Pṛthu was taking his bow and arrow to kill her, she became very much afraid and began to tremble. She then began to flee, exactly like a deer, which runs very swiftly when followed by a hunter. Being afraid of King Pṛthu, she took the shape of a cow and began to run.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Mother Earth Seeks Protection

  1. 1

    Mother earth produces living entities in many forms, just as a mother produces various children. The purport explains that she can also take innumerable shapes.

  2. 2

    Frightened by King Pṛthu's bow and arrow, she took the shape of a cow and fled. She chose this form because a cow is never to be killed.

  3. 3

    King Pṛthu understood why she had taken a cow's shape. Nevertheless, he continued chasing her.

Key points from the purport
  • At this time, in order to avoid the wrath of King Pṛthu, she took the shape of a cow.
  • Since a cow is never to be killed, mother earth thought it wise to take the shape of a cow in order to avoid King Pṛthu’s arrows.
  • King Pṛthu, however, could understand this fact, and therefore he did not stop chasing the cow-shaped earth.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Anger and disorder → Duty and devotion. Kingship shifts from domination to stewardship and renunciation.

Chapters 13–23 of Canto 4: Vena and Pṛthu: power, the Earth and stewardship. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 17: Mahārāja Pṛthu Becomes Angry at the Earth

Pṛthu pursues the cow-shaped earth, who offers prayers and appeals to his mercy.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pravepamānātrembling
  2. dharaṇīthe earth
  3. niśāmyaseeing
  4. udāyudhamhaving taken his bow and arrow
  5. caalso
  6. tamthe King
  7. gauḥa cow
  8. satībecoming
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “king”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “afraid”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “mother”, “children”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the earth's choice of a cow's form highlight the cow's right to protection?

Practice

Write one sentence recalling the purport's teaching that a cow is never to be killed.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMother Earth Seeks ProtectionThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.17.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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