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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
4.17.224.17.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.23

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Pṛthusince 4.17.22inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

यवसं जग्ध्यनुदिनं नैव दोग्ध्यौधसं पय: । तस्यामेवं हि दुष्टायां दण्डो नात्र न शस्यते ॥ २३ ॥

yavasaṁ jagdhy anudinaṁ

naiva dogdhy audhasaṁ payaḥ

tasyām evaṁ hi duṣṭāyāṁ

daṇḍo nātra na śasyate

Translation

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.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Receiving Support Brings Responsibility

  1. 1

    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.

  2. 2

    Yajñas are performed to produce sufficient clouds and rainfall. The word payaḥ can refer to both milk and water.

  3. 3

    Pṛthu Mahārāja considered the earth responsible for withholding food. Her assuming the form of a cow did not excuse her offense.

Key points from the purport
  • A cow eats green grasses in the pasture and fills her milk bag with sufficient milk so that the cowherdsmen can milk her.
  • As one of the demigods, the earthly planet was taking her share in the yajñas — that is, she was eating green grass — but in return she was not producing sufficient food grains — that is, she was not filling her milk bag.
  • Pṛthu Mahārāja was therefore justified in threatening to punish her for her offense.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yavasamgreen grass
  2. jagdhiyou eat
  3. anudinamdaily
  4. nanever
  5. evacertainly
  6. dogdhiyou yield
  7. audhasamin the milk bag
  8. payaḥmilk
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “offenses”, “offense”

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 am I fulfilling my responsibilities toward those who support me?

Practice

Complete one small responsibility today for someone whose support you receive.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReceiving Support Brings ResponsibilityThis 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.

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