1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

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

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.17.204.17.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.21

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The cow-shaped earthsince 4.17.21inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मां विपाट्याजरां नावं यत्र विश्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् । आत्मानं च प्रजाश्चेमा: कथमम्भसि धास्यसि ॥ २१ ॥

māṁ vipāṭyājarāṁ nāvaṁ

yatra viśvaṁ pratiṣṭhitam

ātmānaṁ ca prajāś cemāḥ

katham ambhasi dhāsyasi

Translation

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?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Protect the Earth That Supports Everyone

  1. 1

    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.

  2. 2

    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.

  3. 3

    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.

Key points from the purport
  • Beneath the entire planetary system is the garbha water.
  • Indeed, how would he protect himself and his citizens from drowning in the garbha water?
  • Thus the cosmic manifestation is partially explained in this reference by 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. māmme
  2. vipāṭyabreaking to pieces
  3. ajarāmvery strong
  4. nāvamboat
  5. yatrawhere
  6. viśvamall worldly paraphernalia
  7. pratiṣṭhitamstanding
  8. ātmānamyourself
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “king”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “protect”

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

Before acting, do I consider how damaging a shared support could harm others?

Practice

Take care of one shared resource today rather than damaging or wasting it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.17's connections

Live this todayProtect the Earth That Supports EveryoneThis 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 4.17.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories