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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
4.17.304.17.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.31

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The planet earthsince 4.17.30inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

य एतदादावसृजच्चराचरं

स्वमाययात्माश्रययावितर्क्यया ।

तयैव सोऽयं किल गोप्तुमुद्यत:

कथं नु मां धर्मपरो जिघांसति ॥ ३१ ॥

ya etad ādāv asṛjac carācaraṁ

sva-māyayātmāśrayayāvitarkyayā

tayaiva so ’yaṁ kila goptum udyataḥ

kathaṁ nu māṁ dharma-paro jighāṁsati

Translation

In the beginning of creation You created all these moving and nonmoving living entities by Your inconceivable energy. Through this very same energy You are now prepared to protect the living entities. Indeed, You are the supreme protector of religious principles. Why are You so anxious to kill me, even though I am in 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.

The Earth Appeals for the Lord’s Protection

  1. 1

    The Lord created moving and nonmoving living entities through His inconceivable energy. Through that same energy, He is prepared to protect them.

  2. 2

    The earth acknowledges that the creator can also annihilate by His own will. Yet she asks why the protector of religious principles wishes to kill her in the form of a cow.

  3. 3

    The earth supports her appeal by pointing to her service to other living entities. She is their resting place and produces grains for them.

Key points from the purport
  • The planet earth argues that there is no doubt that one who creates can also annihilate by his sweet will.
  • The planet earth questions why she should be killed when the Lord is prepared to give protection to everyone.
  • After all, it is the earth that is the resting place for all other living entities, and it is the earth that produces grains for them.

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. yaḥone who
  2. etatthese
  3. ādauin the beginning of creation
  4. asṛjatcreated
  5. cara-acarammoving and nonmoving living entities
  6. sva-māyayāby His own potency
  7. ātma-āśrayayāsheltered under His own protection
  8. avitarkyayāinconceivable
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • 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

What do I appreciate about the earth’s role in sheltering and feeding living beings?

Practice

Before eating today, pause to acknowledge the earth’s provision of grains and the Lord’s protection of living beings.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Earth Appeals for the Lord’s 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.

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