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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 17: Mahārāja Pṛthu Becomes Angry at the Earth
4.17.144.17.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.15

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
A turning point forMahārāja Pṛthu· Confronting scarcity

तामन्वधावत्तद्वैन्य: कुपितोऽत्यरुणेक्षण: । शरं धनुषि सन्धाय यत्र यत्र पलायते ॥ १५ ॥

tām anvadhāvat tad vainyaḥ

kupito ’tyaruṇekṣaṇaḥ

śaraṁ dhanuṣi sandhāya

yatra yatra palāyate

Translation

Seeing this, Mahārāja Pṛthu became very angry, and his eyes became as red as the early-morning sun. Placing an arrow on his bow, he chased the cow-shaped earth wherever she would run.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pṛthu Continues His Pursuit

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Pṛthu became very angry on seeing the earth flee. His eyes became as red as the early-morning sun.

  2. 2

    He placed an arrow on his bow. His anger was accompanied by readiness to act.

  3. 3

    He chased the cow-shaped earth wherever she ran. Her flight did not end his pursuit.

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. tāmthe cow-shaped earth
  2. anvadhāvathe chased
  3. tatthen
  4. vainyaḥthe son of King Vena
  5. kupitaḥbeing very much angry
  6. ati-aruṇavery red
  7. īkṣaṇaḥhis eyes
  8. śaraman arrow
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

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

Which details in the translation convey the intensity of Pṛthu's anger?

Practice

Reread the translation slowly and identify its descriptions of Pṛthu's expression and actions.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPṛthu Continues His PursuitThis 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 4.17.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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