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Chapter 17: Mahārāja Pṛthu Becomes Angry at the Earth

Verse 22 of 34
SB 4.17.22

पृथुरुवाच वसुधे त्वां वधिष्यामि मच्छासनपराङ्मुखीम् भागं बर्हिषि या वृंक्ते न तनोति च नो वसु

pṛthur uvāca vasudhe tvāṁ vadhiṣyāmi mac-chāsana-parāṅ-mukhīm bhāgaṁ barhiṣi yā vṛṅkte na tanoti ca no vasu

Synonyms

pṛthuḥ uvācaKing Pṛthu replied; vasu-dhemy dear earthly planet; tvāmyou; vadhiṣyāmiI shall kill; matmy; śāsanarulings; parāk-mukhīmdisobedient to; bhāgamyour share; barhiṣiin the yajña; who; vṛṅkteaccepts; nanot; tanotidoes deliver; caand; naḥto us; vasuproduce..

Translation

King Pṛthu replied to the earthly Planet: My dear earth, you have disobeyed my orders and rulings. In the form of a demigod you accepted your share of the yajñas we performed, but in return you have not produced sufficient food grains. For this reason I must kill you.

Purport

The cow-shaped earthly planet submitted that she not only was a woman, but was innocent and sinless as well. Thus she argued that she should not be killed. Besides, she pointed out that being perfectly religious-minded, the King could not violate the religious principles that forbade killing a woman. In reply, Mahārāja Pṛthu informed her that first of all she had disobeyed his orders. This was her first sinful activity. Secondly he accused her of taking her share of the yajñas (sacrifices) but not producing sufficient food grains in return.

Verse 22 of 34
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