> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 4
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > Canto 4 Part 1

> > **************

> > Chapter Eighteen: Prthu Maharaja Milks the Earth Planet

> > *******

> > TEXT 1

> > maitreya uvaca

> > ittham prthum abhistuya

> > rusa prasphuritadharam

> > punar ahavanir bhita

> > samstabhyatmanam atmana

> > maitreyah uvaca--the great saint Maitreya continued to speak; ittham--thus; prthum--unto King Prthu; abhistuya--after offering prayers; rusa--in anger; prasphurita--trembling; adharam--his lips; punah--again; aha--she said; avanih--the planet earth; bhita--in fear; samstabhya--after settling; atmanam--the mind; atmana--by the intelligence.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great saint Maitreya continued to address Vidura: My dear Vidura, at that time, after the planet earth finished her prayers, King Prthu was still not pacified, and his lips trembled in great anger. Although the planet earth was frightened, she made up her mind and began to speak as follows in order to convince the King.

> > *******

> > TEXT 2

> > sanniyacchabhibho manyum

> > nibodha sravitam ca me

> > sarvatah saram adatte

> > yatha madhu-karo budhah

> > sanniyaccha--please pacify; abhibho--O King; manyum--anger; nibodha--try to understand; sravitam--what is said; ca--also; me--by me; sarvatah--from everywhere; saram--the essence; adatte--takes; yatha--as; madhu-karah--the bumblebee; budhah--an intelligent person.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Lord, please pacify your anger completely and hear patiently whatever I submit before you. Please turn your kind attention to this. I may be very poor, but a learned man takes the essence of knowledge from all places, just as a bumblebee collects honey from each and every flower.

> > *******

> > TEXT 3

> > asmil loke 'thavamusmin

> > munibhis tattva-darsibhih

> > drsta yogah prayuktas ca

> > pumsam sreyah-prasiddhaye

> > asmin--in this; loke--duration of life; atha va--or; amusmin--in the next life; munibhih--by the great sages; tattva--the truth; darsibhih--by those who have seen it; drstah--prescribed; yogah--methods; prayuktah--applied; ca--also; pumsam--of the people in general; sreyah--benefit; prasiddhaye--in the matter of obtaining.

> > TRANSLATION

> > To benefit all human society, not only in this life but in the next, the great seers and sages have prescribed various methods conducive to the prosperity of the people in general.

> > *******

> > TEXT 4

> > tan atisthati yah samyag

> > upayan purva-darsitan

> > avarah sraddhayopeta

> > upeyan vindate 'njasa

> > tan--those; atisthati--follows; yah--anyone who; samyak--completely; upayan--principles; purva--formerly; darsitan--instructed; avarah--inexperienced; sraddhaya--with faith; upetah--being situated; upeyan--the fruits of activities; vindate--enjoys; anjasa--very easily.

> > TRANSLATION

> > One who follows the principles and instructions enjoined by the great sages of the past can utilize these instructions for practical purposes. Such a person can very easily enjoy life and pleasures.

> > *******

> > TEXT 5

> > tan anadrtya yo 'vidvan

> > arthan arabhate svayam

> > tasya vyabhicaranty artha

> > arabdhas ca punah punah

> > tan--those; anadrtya--neglecting; yah--anyone who; avidvan--rascal; arthan--schemes; arabhate--begins; svayam--personally; tasya--his; vyabhicaranti--do not become successful; arthah--purposes; arabdhah--attempted; ca--and; punah punah--again and again.

> > TRANSLATION

> > A foolish person who manufactures his own ways and means through mental speculation and does not recognize the authority of the sages who lay down unimpeachable directions is simply unsuccessful again and again in his attempts.

> > *******

> > TEXT 6

> > pura srsta hy osadhayo

> > brahmana ya visampate

> > bhujyamana maya drsta

> > asadbhir adhrta-vrataih

> > pura--in the past; srstah--created; hi--certainly; osadhayah--herbs and food grains; brahmana--by Lord Brahma; yah--all those which; visam-pate--O King; bhujyamanah--being enjoyed; maya--by me; drstah--seen; asadbhih--by nondevotees; adhrta-vrataih--devoid of all spiritual activities.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear King, the seeds, roots, herbs and grains, which were created by Lord Brahma in the past, are now being used by nondevotees, who are devoid of all spiritual understanding.

> > *******

> > TEXT 7

> > apalitanadrta ca

> > bhavadbhir loka-palakaih

> > cori-bhute 'tha loke 'ham

> > yajnarthe 'grasam osadhih

> > apalita--without being taken care of; anadrta--being neglected; ca--also; bhavadbhih--like your good self; loka-palakaih--by the governors or kings; cori-bhute--being beset by thieves; atha--therefore; loke--this world; aham--I; yajna-arthe--for the purpose of performing sacrifices; agrasam--have hidden; osadhih--all the herbs and grains.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear King, not only are grains and herbs being used by nondevotees, but, as far as I am concerned, I am not being properly maintained. Indeed, I am being neglected by kings who are not punishing these rascals who have turned into thieves by using grains for sense gratification. Consequently I have hidden all these seeds, which were meant for the performance of sacrifice.

> > *******

> > TEXT 8

> > nunam ta virudhah ksina

> > mayi kalena bhuyasa

> > tatra yogena drstena

> > bhavan adatum arhati

> > nunam--therefore; tah--those; virudhah--herbs and grains; ksinah--deteriorated; mayi--within me; kalena--in course of time; bhuyasa--very much; tatra--therefore; yogena--by proper means; drstena--acknowledged; bhavan--Your Majesty; adatum--to take; arhati--ought.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Due to being stocked for a very long time, all the grain seeds within me have certainly deteriorated. Therefore you should immediately arrange to take these seeds out by the standard process, which is recommended by the acaryas or sastras.

> > *******

> > TEXT 9-10

> > vatsam kaipaya me vira

> > yenaham vatsala tava

> > dhoksye ksiramayan kaman

> > anurupam ca dohanam

> > dogdharam ca maha-baho

> > bhutanam bhuta-bhavana

> > annam ipsitam urjasvad

> > bhagavan vanchate yadi

> > vatsam--a calf; kalpaya--arrange; me--for me; vira--O hero; yena--by which; aham--I; vatsala--affectionate; tava--your; dhoksye--shall fulfill; ksira-mayan--in the form of milk; kaman--desired necessities; anurupam--according to different living entities; ca--also; dohanam--milking pot; dogdharam--milkman;

> > ca--also; maha-baho--O mighty-armed one; bhutanam--of all living entities; bhuta-bhavana--O protector of the living entities; annam--food grains; ipsitam--desired; urjah-vat--nourishing; bhagavan--your worshipable self; vanchate--desires; yadi--if.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O great hero, protector of living entities, if you desire to relieve the living entities by supplying them sufficient grain, and if you desire to nourish them by taking milk from me, you should make arrangements to bring a calf suitable for this purpose and a pot in which the milk can be kept, as well as a milkman to do the work. Since I will be very much affectionate towards my calf, your desire to take milk from me will be fulfilled.

> > *******

> > TEXT 11

> > samam ca kuru mam rajan

> > deva-vrstam yatha payah

> > apartav api bhadram te

> > upavarteta me vibho

> > samam--equally level; ca--also; kuru--make; mam--me; rajan--O King; deva-vrstam--fallen as rain by the mercy of King Indra; yatha--so that; payah--water; apa-rtau--when the rainy season has ceased; api--even; bhadram--auspiciousness; te--unto you; upavarteta--it can remain; me--on me; vibho--O Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear King, may I inform you that you have to make the entire surface of the globe level. This will help me, even when the rainy season has ceased. Rainfall comes by the mercy of King Indra. Rainfall will remain on the surface of the globe, always keeping the earth moistened, and thus it will be auspicious for all kinds of production.

> > *******

> > TEXT 12

> > iti priyam hitam vakyam

> > bhuva adaya bhupatih

> > vatsam krtva manum panav

> > aduhat sakalausadhih

> > iti--thus; priyam--pleasing; hitam--beneficial; vakyam--words; bhuvah--of the earth; adaya--taking into consideration; bhu-patih--the King; vatsam--calf; krtva--making; manum--Svayanbhuva Manu; panau--in his hands; aduhat--milked; sakala--all; osadhih--herbs and grains.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After hearing the auspicious and pleasing words of the planet earth, the King accepted them. He then transformed Svayambhuva Manu into a calf and milked all the herbs and grains from the earth in the form of a cow, keeping them in his cupped hands.

> > *******

> > TEXT 13

> > tathapare ca sarvatra

> > saram adadate budhah

> > tato 'nye ca yatha-kamam

> > duduhuh prthu-bhavitam

> > tatha--so; apare--others; ca--also; sarvatra--everywhere; saram--the essence; adadate--took; budhah--the intelligent class of men; tatah--thereafter; anye--others; ca--also; yatha-kamam--as much as they desired; duduhuh--milked; prthu-bhavitam--the planet earth, controlled by Prthu Maharaja.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Others, who were as intelligent as King Prthu, also took the essence out of the earthly planet. Indeed, everyone took this opportunity to follow in the footsteps of King Prthu and get whatever he desired from the planet earth.

> > *******

> > TEXT 14

> > rsayo duduhur devim

> > indriyesv atha sattama

> > vatsam brhaspatim krtva

> > payas chandomayam suci

> > rsayah--the great sages; duduhuh--milked; devim--the earth; indriyesu--in the senses; atha--then; sattama--O Vidura; vatsam--the calf; brhaspatim--the sage Brhaspati; krtva--making; payah--milk; chandah-mayam--in the form of the Vedic hymns; suci--pure.

> > TRANSLATION

> > All the great sages transformed Brhaspati into a calf, and making the senses into a pot, they milked all kinds of Vedic knowledge to purify words, mind and hearing.

> > *******

> > TEXT 15

> > krtva vatsam sura-gana

> > indram somam aduduhan

> > hiranmayena patrena

> > viryam ojo balam payah

> > krtva--making; vatsam--calf; sura-ganah--the demigods; indram--Indra, King of heaven; somam--nectar; aduduhan--they milked out; hiranmayena--golden; patrena--with a pot; viryam--mental power; ojah--strength of the senses; balam--strength of the body; payah--milk.

> > TRANSLATION

> > All the demigods made Indra, the King of heaven, into a calf, and from the earth they milked the beverage soma, which is nectar. Thus they became very powerful in mental speculation and bodily and sensual strength.

> > *******

> > TEXT 16

> > daiteya danava vatsam

> > prahladam asurarsabham

> > vidhayaduduhan ksiram

> > ayah-patre surasavam

> > daiteyah--the sons of Diti; danavah--demons; vatsam--the calf; prahladam--Prahlada Maharaja; asura--demon; rsabham--the chief; vidhaya--making; aduduhan--they milked out; ksiram--milk; ayah--iron; patre--in a pot; sura--liquor; asavam--fermented liquids like beer.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The sons of Diti and the demons transformed Prahlada Maharaja, who was born in an asura family, into a calf, and they extracted various kinds of liquor and beer, which they put into a pot made of iron.

> > *******

> > TEXT 17

> > gandharvapsaraso 'dhuksan

> > patre padmamaye payah

> > vatsam visvavasum krtva

> > gandharvam madhu saubhagam

> > gandharva--inhabitants of the Gandharva planet; apsarasah--the inhabitants of the Apsara planet; adhuksan--milked out; patre--in a pot; padma-maye--made of a lotus; payah--milk; vatsam--calf; visvavasum--of the name Visvavasu; krtva--making; gandharvam--songs; madhu--sweet; saubhagam--beauty.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The inhabitants of Gandharvaloka and Apsaroloka made Visvavasu into a calf, and they drew the milk into a lotus flower pot. The milk took the shape of sweet musical art and beauty.

> > *******

> > TEXT 18

> > vatsena pitaro 'ryamna

> > kavyam ksiram adhuksata

> > ama-patre maha-bhagah

> > sraddhaya sraddha-devatah

> > vatsena--by the calf; pitarah--the inhabitants of Pitrloka; aryamna--by the god of Pitrloka, Aryama; kavyam--offerings of food to ancestors; ksiram--milk; adhuksata--took out; ama-patre--into an unbaked earthen pot; maha-bhagah--the greatly fortunate; sraddhaya--with great faith; sraddha-devatah--the demigods presiding over sraddha ceremonies in honor of deceased relatives.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The fortunate inhabitants of Pitrloka, who preside over the funeral ceremonies, made Aryama into a calf. With great faith they milked kavya, food offered to the ancestors, into an unbaked earthen pot.

> > *******

> > TEXT 19

> > prakalpya vatsam kapilam

> > siddhah sankalpanamayim

> > siddhim nabhasi vidyam ca

> > ye ca vidyadharadayah

> > prakalpya--appointing; vatsam--calf; kapilam--the great sage Kapila; siddhah--the inhabitants of Siddhaloka; sankalpana-mayim--proceeding from will; siddhim--yogic perfection; nabhasi--in the sky; vidyam--knowledge; ca--also; ye--those who; ca--also; vidyadhara-adayah--the inhabitants of Vidyadhara-loka, and so on.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After this, the inhabitants of Siddhaloka, as well as the inhabitants of Vidyadhara-loka, transformed the great sage Kapila into a calf, and making the whole sky into a pot, they milked out specific yogic mystic powers, beginning with anima. Indeed, the inhabitants of Vidyadhara-loka acquired the art of flying in the sky.

> > *******

> > TEXT 20

> > anye ca mayino mayam

> > anta rdhanadbhutatmanam

> > mayam prakalpya vatsam te

> > duduhur dharanamayim

> > anye--others; ca--also; mayinah--mystic magicians; mayam--mystic powers; antardhana--disappearing; adbhuta--wonderful; atmanam--of the body; mayam--the demon named Maya; prakaipya--making; vatsam--the calf; te--they; duduhuh--milked out; dharanamayim--proceeding from will.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Others also, the inhabitants of planets known as Kimpurusa-loka, made the demon Maya into a calf, and they milked out mystic powers by which one can disappear immediately from another's vision and appear again in a different form.

> > *******

> > TEXT 21

> > yaksa-raksamsi bhutani

> > pisacah pisitasanah

> > bhutesa-vatsa duduhuh

> > kapale ksatajasavam

> > yaksa--the Yaksas (the descendants of Kuvera); raksamsi--the Raksasas (meat-eaters); bhutani--ghosts; pisacah--witches; pisita-asanah--who are all habituated to eating flesh; bhutesa--Lord Siva's incarnation Rudra; vatsah--whose calf; duduhuh--milked out; kapale--in a pot of skulls; ksata ja--blood; asavam--a fermented beverage.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Then the Yaksas, Raksasas, ghosts and witches, who are habituated to eating flesh, transformed Lord Siva's incarnation Rudra [Bhutanatha] into a calf and milked out beverages made of blood and put them in a pot made of skulls.

> > *******

> > TEXT 22

> > tathahayo dandasukah

> > sarpa nagas ca taksakam

> > vidhaya vatsam duduhur

> > bila-patre vis am payah

> > tatha--similarly; ahayah--snakes without hoods; dandasukah--scorpions; sarpah--cobras; nagah--big snakes; ca--and; taksakam--Taksaka, chief of the snakes; vidhaya--making; vatsam--calf; duduhuh--milked out; bila-patre--in the pot of snake holes; visam--poison; payah--as milk.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter cobras and snakes without hoods, large snakes, scorpions and many other poisonous animals took poison out of the planet earth as their milk and kept this poison in snake holes. They made a calf out of Taksaka.

> > *******

> > TEXT 23-24

> > pasavo yavasam ksiram

> > vatsam krtva ca go-vrsam

> > aranya-patre cadhuksan

> > mrgendrena ca damstrinah

> > kravyadah praninah kravyam

> > duduhuh sve kalevare

> > suparna-vatsa vihagas

> > caram cacaram eva ca

> > pasavah--cattle; yavasam--green grasses; ksiram--milk; vatsam--the calf; krtva--making; ca--also; go-vrsam--the bull carrier of Lord Siva; aranya-patre--in the pot of the forest; ca--also; adhuksan--milked out; mrga-indrena--by the lion; ca--and; damstrinah--animals with sharp teeth; kravya-adah--animals who eat raw flesh; praninah--living entities; kravyam--flesh; duduhuh--took out; sve--own; kalevare--in the pot of their body; suparna--Garuda; vatsah--whose calf; vihagah--the birds; caram--moving living entities; ca--also; acaram--nonmoving living entities; eva--certainly; ca--also.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The four-legged animals like the cows made a calf out of the bull who carries Lord Siva and made a milking pot out of the forest. Thus they got fresh green grasses to eat. Ferocious animals like tigers transformed a lion into a calf, and thus they were able to get flesh for milk. The birds made a calf out of Garuda and took milk from the planet earth in the form of moving insects and nonmoving plants and grasses.

> > *******

> > TEXT 25

> > vata-vatsa vanaspatayah

> > prthag rasamayam payah

> > girayo himavad-vatsa

> > nana-dhatun sva-sanusu

> > vata-vatsah--making the banyan tree a calf; vanah-patayah--the trees; prthak--different; rasa-mayam--in the form of juices; payah--milk; girayah--the hills and mountains; himavat-vatsah--making the Himalaya s the calf; nana--various; dhatun--minerals; sva--own; sanusu--on their peaks.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The trees made a calf out of the banyan tree, and thus they derived milk in the form of many delicious juices. The mountains transformed the Himalaya s into a calf, and they milked a variety of minerals into a pot made of the peaks of hills.

> > *******

> > TEXT 26

> > sarve sva-mukhya-vatsena

> > sve sve patre prthak payah

> > sarva-kama-dugham prthvim

> > duduhuh prthu-bhavitam

> > sarve--all; sva-mukhya--by their own chiefs; vatsena--as the calf; sve sve--in their own; patre--pots; prthak--different; payah--milk; sarva-kama--all desirables; dugham--supplying as milk; prthvim--the planet earth; duduhuh--milked out; prthu-bhavitam--controlled by King Prthu.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The planet earth supplied everyone his respective food. During the time of King Prthu, the earth was fully under the control of the King. Thus all the inhabitants of the earth could get their food supply by creating various types of calves and putting their particular types of milk in various pots.

> > *******

> > TEXT 27

> > evam prthv-adayah prthvim

> > annadah svannam atmanah

> > doha-vatsadi-bhedena

> > ksira-bhedam kurudvaha

> > evam--thus; prthu-adayah--King Prthu and others; prthvim--the earth; anna-adah--all living entities desiring food; su-annam--their desired foodstuff; atmanah--for self-preservation; doha--for milking; vatsa-adi--by calves, pots and milkers; bhedena--different; ksira--milk; bhedam--different; kuru-udvaha--O chief of the Kurus.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear Vidura, chief of the Kurus, in this way King Prthu and all the others who subsist on food created different types of calves and milked out their respective eatables. Thus they received their various foodstuffs, which were symbolized as milk.

> > *******

> > TEXT 28

> > tato mahipatih pritah

> > sarva-kama-dugham prthuh

> > duhitrtve cakaremam

> > premna duhitr-vatsalah

> > tatah--thereafter; mahi-patih--the King; pritah--being pleased; sarva-kama--all desirables; dugham--producing as milk; prthuh--King Prthu; duhitrtve--treating as his daughter; cakara--did; imam--unto the planet earth; premna--out of affection; duhitr-vatsalah--affectionate to his daughter.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter King Prthu was very satisfied with the planet earth, for she sufficiently supplied all food to various living entities. Thus he developed an affection for the planet earth, just as if she were his own daughter.

> > *******

> > TEXT 29

> > curnayan sva-dhanus-kotya

> > giri-kutani raja-rat

> > bhu-mandalam idam vainyah

> > prayas cakre samam vibhuh

> > curnayan--making into pieces; sva--his own; dhanuh-kotya--by the power of his bow; giri--of the hills; kutani--the tops; raja-rat--the emperor; bhu-mandalam--the whole earth; idam--this; vainyah--the son of Vena; prayah--almost; cakre--made; samam--level; vibhuh--the powerful.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After this, the king of all kings, Maharaja Prthu, leveled all rough places on the surface of the globe by breaking up the hills with the strength of his bow. By his grace the surface of the globe almost became flat.

> > *******

> > TEXT 30

> > athasmin bhagavan vainyah

> > prajanam vrttidah pita

> > nivasan kalpayam cakre

> > tatra tatra yatharhatah

> > atha--thus; asmin--on this planet earth; bhagavan--the Personality of Godhead; vainyah--son of Vena; prajanam--of the citizens; vrttidah--who supplies employment; pita--a father; nivasan--residences; kalpayam--suitable; cakre--make; tatra tatra--here and there; yatha--as; arhatah--desirable, suitable.

> > TRANSLATION

> > To all the citizens of the state, King Prthu was as good as a father. Thus he was visibly engaged in giving them proper subsistence and proper employment for subsistence. After leveling the surface of the globe, he earmarked different places for residential quarters, inasmuch as they were desirable.

> > *******

> > TEXT 31

> > graman purah pattanani

> > durgani vividhani ca

> > ghosan vrajan sa-sibiran

> > akaran kheta-kharvatan

> > graman--villages; purah--cities; pattanani--settlements; durgani--forts; vividhani--of different varieties; ca--also; ghosan--habitations for the milkmen; vrajan--pens for cattle; sa-sibiran--with camps; akaran--mines; kheta--agricultural towns; kharvatan--mountain villages.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In this way the King founded many types of villages, settlements and towns and built forts, residences for cowherdsmen, stables for the animals, and places for the royal camps, mining places, agricultural towns and mountain villages.

> > *******

> > TEXT 32

> > prak prthor iha naivaisa

> > pura-gramadi-kalpana

> > yatha-sukham vasanti sma

> > tatra tatrakutobhayah

> > prak--before; prthoh--King Prthu; iha--on this planet; na--never; eva--certainly; esa--this; pura--of towns; grama-adi--of villages, etc.; kalpana--planned arrangement; yatha--as; sukham--convenient; vasanti sma--lived; tatra tatra--here and there; akutah-bhayah--without hesitation.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Before the reign of King Prthu there was no planned arrangement for different cities, villages, pasturing grounds, etc. Every thing was scattered, and everyone constructed his residential quarters according to his own convenience. However, since King Prthu plans were made for towns and villages.

> > Back to the running text