Chapter Eighteen
Prthu Maharaja Milks the Earth Planet
TEXT 1
TEXT
maitreya uvaca
ittham prthum abhistuya
rusa prasphuritadharam
punar ahavanir bhita
samstabhyatmanam atmana
SYNONYMS
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
TEXT
sanniyacchabhibho manyum
nibodha sravitam ca me
sarvatah saram adatte
yatha madhu-karo budhah
SYNONYMS
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
TEXT
asmil loke 'thavamusmin
munibhis tattva-darsibhih
drsta yogah prayuktas ca
pumsam sreyah-prasiddhaye
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
Vedic civilization takes advantage of the perfect knowledge presented in the Vedas and presented by great sages and brahmanas for the benefit of human society. Vedic injunctions are known as sruti, and the additional supplementary presentations of these principles, as given by the great sages, are known as smrti. They follow the principles of Vedic instruction. Human society should take advantage of the instructions from both sruti and smrti. If one wants to advance in spiritual life, he must take these instructions and follow the principles. In Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Srila Rupa Gosvami says that if one poses himself as advanced in spiritual life but does not refer to the srutis and smrtis he is simply a disturbance in society. One should follow the principles laid down in srutis and smrtis not only in one's spiritual life but in material life as well. As far as human society is concerned, it should follow the Manu-smrti as well, for these laws are given by Manu, the father of mankind.
In the Manu-smrti it is stated that a woman should not be given independence, but should be given protection by her father, husband and elderly sons. In all circumstances a woman should remain dependent upon some guardian. Presently women are given full independence like men, but actually we can see that such independent women are no happier than those women who are placed under guardians. If people follow the injunctions given by the great sages, srutis and smrtis, they can actually be happy in both this life and the next. Unfortunately rascals are manufacturing so many ways and means to be happy. Everyone is inventing so many methods. Consequently human society has lost the standard ways of life, both materially and spiritually, and as a result people are bewildered, and there is no peace or happiness in the world. Although they are trying to solve the problems of human society in the United Nations, they are still baffled. Because they do not follow the liberated instructions of the Vedas, they are unhappy.
Two significant words used in this verse are asmin and amusmin. Asmin means "in this life," and amusmin means "in the next life." Unfortunately in this age, even exalted professors and learned men believe that there is no next life and that everything is finished in this life. Since they are rascals and fools, what advice can they give? Still they are passing as learned scholars and professors. In this verse the word amusmin is very explicit. It is the duty of everyone to mold his life in such a way that he will have a profitable next life. Just as a boy is educated in order to become happy later, one should be educated in this life in order to attain an eternal and prosperous life after death. It is therefore essential that people follow what is given in the srutis and smrtis to make sure that the human mission is successful.
TEXT 4
TEXT
tan atisthati yah samyag
upayan purva-darsitan
avarah sraddhayopeta
upeyan vindate 'njasa
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
The Vedic principles (mahajano yena gatah sa panthah) urge us to follow in the footsteps of great liberated souls. In this way we can receive benefit in both this life and the next, and we can also improve our material life. By following the principles laid down by great sages and saints of the past, we can very easily understand the aim of all life. The word avarah, meaning "inexperienced," is very significant in this verse. Every conditioned soul is inexperienced. Everyone is abodha jata--born a fool and rascal. In democratic government at the present moment all kinds of fools and rascals are making decisions. But what can they do? What is the result of their legislation? They enact something today just to whimsically repeal it tomorrow. One political party utilizes a country for one purpose, and the next moment another political party forms a different type of government and nullifies all the laws and regulations. This process of chewing the chewed (punah punas carvita-carvananam) will never make human society happy. In order to make all human society happy and prosperous, we should accept the standard methods given by liberated persons.
TEXT 5
TEXT
tan anadrtya yo 'vidvan
arthan arabhate svayam
tasya vyabhicaranty artha
arabdhas ca punah punah
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
At the present moment it has become fashionable to disobey the unimpeachable directions given by the acaryas and liberated souls of the past. Presently people are so fallen that they cannot distinguish between a liberated soul and a conditioned soul. A conditioned soul is hampered by four defects: he is sure to commit mistakes, he is sure to become illusioned, he has a tendency to cheat others, and his senses are imperfect. Consequently we have to take direction from liberated persons. This Krsna consciousness movement directly receives instructions from the Supreme personality of Godhead via persons who are strictly following His instructions. Although a follower may not be a liberated person, if he follows the supreme, liberated Personality of Godhead, his actions are naturally liberated from the contamination of the material nature. Lord Caitanya therefore says: "By My order you may become a spiritual master." One can immediately become a spiritual master by having full faith in the transcendental words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and by following His instructions. Materialistic men are not interested in taking directions from a liberated person, but they are very much interested in their own concocted ideas, which make them repeatedly fail in their attempts. Because the entire world is now following the imperfect directions of conditioned souls, humanity is completely bewildered.
TEXT 6
TEXT
pura srsta hy osadhayo
brahmana ya visampate
bhujyamana maya drsta
asadbhir adhrta-vrataih
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
Lord Brahma created this material world for the use of the living entities, but it was created according to a plan that all living entities who might come into it to dominate it for sense gratification would be given directions by Lord Brahma in the Vedas in order that they might ultimately leave it and return home, back to Godhead. All necessities grown on earth--namely fruits, flowers, trees, grains, animals and animal by-products--were created for use in sacrifice for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu. However, the planet earth in the shape of a cow herein submits that all these utilities are being used by nondevotees, who have no plans for spiritual understanding. Although there are immense potencies within the earth for the production of grains, fruits and flowers, this production is checked by the earth itself when it is misused by nondevotees, who have no spiritual goals. Everything belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and everything can be used for His satisfaction. Things should not be used for the sense gratification of the living entities. This is the whole plan of material nature according to the directions of this material nature.
In this verse the words asadbhih and adhrta-vrataih are important. The word asadbhih refers to the nondevotees. The nondevotees have been described in Bhagavad-gita as duskrtinah (miscreants), mudhah (asses or rascals), naradhamah (lowest of mankind) and mayayapahrta-jnanah (those who have lost their knowledge to the power of the illusory energy). All these persons are asat, nondevotees. Nondevotees are also called grha-vrata, whereas the devotee is called dhrta-vrata. The whole Vedic plan is that the misguided conditioned souls who have come to lord it over material nature should be trained to become dhrta-vrata. This means that they should take a vow to satisfy their senses or enjoy material life only by satisfying the senses of the Supreme Lord. Activities intended to satisfy the senses of the Supreme Lord, Krsna, are called krsnarthe 'khila-cestah. This indicates that one can attempt all kinds of work, but one should do so to satisfy Krsna. This is described in Bhagavad-gita as yajnarthat karma. The word yajna indicates Lord Visnu. We should work only for His satisfaction. In modern times (Kali-yuga), however, people have forgotten Visnu altogether, and they conduct their activities for sense gratification. Such people will gradually become poverty-stricken, for they cannot use things which are to be enjoyed by the Supreme Lord for their own sense gratification. If they continue like this, there will ultimately be a state of poverty, and no grains, fruits or flowers will be produced. Indeed, it is stated in the Twelfth Canto of Bhagavatam that at the end of Kali-yuga people will be so polluted that there will no longer be any grains, wheat, sugarcane or milk.
TEXT 7
TEXT
apalitanadrta ca
bhavadbhir loka-palakaih
cori-bhute 'tha loke 'ham
yajnarthe 'grasam osadhih
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
That which happened during the time of Prthu Maharaja and his father, King Vena, is also happening at this present moment. A huge arrangement exists for the production of large-scale industrial and agricultural products, but all these products are meant for sense gratification. Therefore despite such productive capacities there is scarcity because the world's population is full of thieves. The word cori-bhute indicates that the population has turned to thievery. According to Vedic understanding, men are transformed into thieves when they plan economic development for sense gratification. It is also explained in Bhagavad-gita that if one eats food grains without offering them to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Yajna, he is a thief and liable to be punished. According to spiritual communism, all properties on the surface of the globe belong to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The population has a right to use goods only after offering them to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the process of accepting prasada. Unless one eats prasada, he is certainly a thief. It is the duty of governors and kings to punish such thieves and maintain the world nicely. If this is not done, grains will no longer be produced, and people will simply starve. Indeed, not only will people be obliged to eat less, but they will kill one another and eat each other's flesh. They are already killing animals for flesh, so when there will no longer be grains, vegetables and fruits, they will kill their own sons and fathers and eat their flesh for sustenance.
TEXT 8
TEXT
nunam ta virudhah ksina
mayi kalena bhuyasa
tatra yogena drstena
bhavan adatum arhati
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
When there is a scarcity of grain, the government should follow the methods prescribed in the sastra and approved by the acaryas; thus there will be a sufficient production of grains, and food scarcity and famine can be checked. Bhagavad-gita recommends that we perform yajna, sacrifices. By the performance of yajna, sufficient clouds gather in the sky, and when there are sufficient clouds, there is also sufficient rainfall. In this way agricultural matters are taken care of. When there is sufficient grain production, the general populace eats the grains, and animals like cows, goats and other domestic animals eat the grasses and grains also. According to this arrangement, human beings should perform the sacrifices recommended in the sastras, and if they do so there will no longer be food scarcity. In Kali-yuga, the only sacrifice recommended is sankirtana-yajna.
In this verse there are two significant words: yogena, "by the approved method," and drstena, "as exemplified by the former acaryas." One is mistaken if he thinks that by applying modern machines such as tractors, grains can be produced. If one goes to a desert and uses a tractor, there is still no possibility of producing grains. We may adopt various means, but it is essential to know that the planet earth will stop producing grains if sacrifices are not performed. The earth has already explained that because nondevotees are enjoying the production of food, she has reserved food seeds for the performance of sacrifice. Now, of course, atheists will not believe in this spiritual method of producing grains, but whether they believe or not, the fact remains that we are not independent to produce grain by mechanical means. As far as the approved method is concerned, it is enjoined in the sastras that intelligent men in this age will take to the sankirtana movement, and by so doing they shall worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Caitanya, whose bodily complexion is golden and who is always accompanied by His confidential devotees to preach this Krsna consciousness movement all over the world. In its present condition, the world can only be saved by introducing this sankirtana, this Krsna consciousness movement. As we have learned from the previous verse, one who is not in Krsna consciousness is considered a thief. Even though he may be materially very advanced, a thief cannot be placed in a comfortable position. A thief is a thief, and he is punishable. Because people are without Krsna consciousness, they have become thieves, and consequently they are being punished by the laws of material nature. No one can check this, not even by introducing so many relief funds and humanitarian institutions. Unless the people of the world take to Krsna consciousness, there will be a scarcity of food and much suffering.
TEXTS 9-10
TEXT
vatsam kalpaya me vira
yenaham vatsala tava
dhoksye ksiramayan kaman
anurupam ca dohanam
dogdharam ca maha-baho
bhutanam bhuta-bhavana
annam ipsitam urjasvad
bhagavan vanchate yadi
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
These are nice instructions for milking a cow. The cow must first have a calf so that out of affection for the calf she will voluntarily give sufficient milk. There must also be an expert milkman and a suitable pot in which to keep the milk. Just as a cow cannot deliver sufficient milk without being affectionate to her calf, the earth cannot produce sufficient necessities without feeling affection for those who are Krsna conscious. Even though the earth's being in the shape of a cow may be taken figuratively, the meaning herein is very explicit. Just as a calf can derive milk from a cow, all living entities--including animals, birds, bees, reptiles and aquatics--can receive their respective foods from the planet earth, provided that human beings are not asat, or adhrta-vrata, as we have previously discussed. When human society becomes asat, or ungodly, or devoid of Krsna consciousness, the entire world suffers. If human beings are well-behaved, animals will also receive sufficient food and be happy. The ungodly human being, ignorant of his duty to give protection and food to the animals, kills them to compensate for the insufficient production of grains. Thus no one is satisfied, and that is the cause for the present condition in today's world.
TEXT 11
TEXT
samam ca kuru mam rajan
deva-vrstam yatha payah
apartav api bhadram te
upavarteta me vibho
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
King Indra of the heavenly planets is in charge of throwing thunderbolts and giving rainfall. Generally thunderbolts are thrown on the tops of hills in order to break them to pieces. As these pieces are spread asunder in due course of time, the surface of the globe gradually becomes fit for agriculture. Level land is especially conducive to the production of grain. Thus the planet earth requested Maharaja Prthu to level the surface of the earth, breaking up the high land and mountains.
TEXT 12
TEXT
iti priyam hitam vakyam
bhuva adaya bhupatih
vatsam krtva manum panav
aduhat sakalausadhih
SYNONYMS
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--Svayambhuva 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
TEXT
tathapare ca sarvatra
saram adadate budhah
tato 'nye ca yatha-kamam
duduhuh prthu-bhavitam
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
The planet earth is also called vasundhara. The word vasu means "wealth," and dhara means "one who holds." All creatures within the earth fulfill the necessities required for human beings, and all living entities can be taken out of the earth by the proper means. As suggested by the planet earth, and accepted and initiated by King Prthu, whatever is taken from the earth--either from the mines, from the surface of the globe or from the atmosphere--should always be considered the property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and should be used for Yajna, Lord Visnu. As soon as the process of yajna is stopped, the earth will withhold all productions--vegetables, trees, plants, fruits, flowers, other agricultural products and minerals. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita, the process of yajna was instituted from the beginning of creation. By the regular performance of yajna, the equal distribution of wealth and the restriction of sense gratification, the entire world will be made peaceful and prosperous. As already mentioned, in this age of Kali the simple performance of sankirtana-yajna--the holding of festivals as initiated by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness--should be introduced in every town and village. Intelligent men should encourage the performance of sankirtana-yajna by their personal behavior. This means that they should follow the process of austerity by restricting themselves from illicit sex life, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. If the intelligent men, or the brahmanas of society, would follow the rules and regulations, certainly the entire face of this present world, which is in such chaotic condition, would change, and people would be happy and prosperous.
TEXT 14
TEXT
rsayo duduhur devim
indriyesv atha sattama
vatsam brhaspatim krtva
payas chandomayam suci
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
Brhaspati is the priest of the heavenly planets. Vedic knowledge was received in logical order by the great sages through Brhaspati for the benefit of human society, not only on this planet, but throughout the universes. In other words, Vedic knowledge is considered one of the necessities for human society. If human society remains satisfied simply by taking grains from the planet earth as well as other necessities for maintaining the body, society will not be sufficiently prosperous. Humanity must have food for the mind and ear, as well as for the purpose of vibration. As far as transcendental vibrations are concerned, the essence of all Vedic knowledge is the maha-mantra--Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. In Kali-yuga, if this Vedic maha-mantra is chanted regularly and heard regularly by the devotional process of sravanam kirtanam, it will purify all societies, and thus humanity will be happy both materially and spiritually.
TEXT 15
TEXT
krtva vatsam sura-gana
indram somam aduduhan
hiranmayena patrena
viryam ojo balam payah
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
In this verse the word soma means "nectar." Soma is a kind of beverage made in the heavenly planets from the moon to the kingdoms of the demigods in the various higher planetary systems. By drinking this soma beverage the demigods become more powerful mentally and increase their sensual power and bodily strength. The words hiranmayena patrena indicate that this soma beverage is not an ordinary intoxicating liquor. The demigods would not touch any kind of liquor. Nor is soma a kind of drug. It is a different kind of beverage, available in the heavenly planets. Soma is far different from the liquors made for demoniac people, as explained in the next verse.
TEXT 16
TEXT
daiteya danava vatsam
prahladam asurarsabham
vidhayaduduhan ksiram
ayah-patre surasavam
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
The demons also have their own types of beverages in the form of liquors and beers, just as the demigods use soma-rasa for their drinking purposes. The demons born of Diti take great pleasure in drinking wine and beer. Even today people of demoniac nature are very much addicted to liquor and beer. The name of Prahlada Maharaja is very significant in this connection. Because Prahlada Maharaja was born in a family of demons, as the son of Hiranyakasipu, by his mercy the demons were and still are able to have their drinks in the form of wine and beer. The word ayah (iron) is very significant. Whereas the nectarean soma was put in a golden pot, the liquors and beers were put in an iron pot. Because the liquor and beer are inferior, they are placed in an iron pot, and because soma-rasa is superior, it is placed in a golden pot.
TEXT 17
TEXT
gandharvapsaraso 'dhuksan
patre padmamaye payah
vatsam visvavasum krtva
gandharvam madhu saubhagam
SYNONYMS
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
TEXT
vatsena pitaro 'ryamna
kavyam ksiram adhuksata
ama-patre maha-bhagah
sraddhaya sraddha-devatah
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
In Bhagavad-gita (9.25) it is said, pitrn yanti pitr-vratah. Those who are interested in family welfare are called pitr-vratah. There is a planet called Pitrloka, and the predominating deity of that planet is called Aryama. He is somewhat of a demigod, and by satisfying him one can help ghostly family members develop a gross body. Those who are very sinful and attached to their family, house, village or country do not receive a gross body made of material elements but remain in a subtle body, composed of mind, ego and intelligence. Those who live in such subtle bodies are called ghosts. This ghostly position is very painful because a ghost has intelligence, mind and ego and wants to enjoy material life, but because he doesn't have a gross material body, he can only create disturbances for want of material satisfaction. It is the duty of family members, especially the son, to offer oblations to the demigod Aryama or to Lord Visnu. From time immemorial in India the son of a dead man goes to Gaya and, at a Visnu temple there, offers oblations for the benefit of his ghostly father. It is not that everyone's father becomes a ghost, but the oblations of pinda are offered to the lotus feet of Lord Visnu so that if a family member happens to become a ghost, he will be favored with a gross body. However, if one is habituated to taking the prasada of Lord Visnu, there is no chance of his becoming a ghost or anything lower than a human being. In Vedic civilization there is a performance called sraddha by which food is offered with faith and devotion. If one offers oblations with faith and devotion--either to the lotus feet of Lord Visnu or to His representative in Pitrloka, Aryama--one's forefathers will attain material bodies to enjoy whatever material enjoyment is due them. In other words, they do not have to become ghosts.
TEXT 19
TEXT
prakalpya vatsam kapilam
siddhah sankalpanamayim
siddhim nabhasi vidyam ca
ye ca vidyadharadayah
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
The inhabitants of both Siddhaloka and Vidyadhara-loka are naturally endowed with mystic yogic powers by which they not only can fly in outer space without a vehicle but can also fly from one planet to another simply by exerting their will. Just as fish can swim within water, the residents of Vidyadhara-loka can swim in the ocean of air. As far as the inhabitants of Siddhaloka are concerned, they are endowed with all mystic powers. The yogis in this planet practice the eightfold yogic mysticism--namely yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. By regularly practicing the yogic processes one after another, the yogis attain various perfections; they can become smaller than the smallest, heavier than the heaviest, etc. They can even manufacture a planet, get whatever they like and control whatever man they want. All the residents of Siddhaloka are naturally endowed with these mystic yogic powers. It is certainly a very wonderful thing if we see a person on this planet flying in the sky without a vehicle, but in Vidyadhara-loka such flying is as commonplace as a bird's flying in the sky. Similarly, in Siddhaloka all the inhabitants are great yogis, perfect in mystic powers.
The name of Kapila Muni is significant in this verse because He was the expounder of the Sankhya philosophical system, and His father, Kardama Muni, was a great yogi and mystic. Indeed, Kardama Muni prepared a great airplane, which was as large as a small town and had various gardens, palatial buildings, servants and maidservants. With all this paraphernalia, Kapiladeva's mother, Devahuti, and His father, Kardama Muni, traveled all over the universes and visited different planets.
TEXT 20
TEXT
anye ca mayino mayam
antardhanadbhutatmanam
mayam prakalpya vatsam te
duduhur dharanamayim
SYNONYMS
anye--others; ca--also; mayinah--mystic magicians; mayam--mystic powers; antardhana--disappearing; adbhuta--wonderful; atmanam--of the body; mayam--the demon named Maya; prakalpya--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.
PURPORT
It is said that the inhabitants of Kimpurusa-loka can perform many wonderful mystic demonstrations. In other words, they can exhibit as many wonderful things as one can imagine. The inhabitants of this planet can do whatever they like, or whatever they imagine. Such powers are also mystic powers. The possession of such mystic power is called isita. The demons generally learn such mystic powers by the practice of yoga. In the Dasama-skandha, the Tenth Canto, of Srimad-Bhagavatam, there is a vivid description of how the demons appear before Krsna in various wonderful forms. For instance, Bakasura appeared before Krsna and His cowherd boyfriends as a gigantic crane. While present on this planet, Lord Krsna had to fight with many demons who could exhibit the wonderful mystic powers of Kimpurusa-loka. Although the inhabitants of Kimpurusa-loka are naturally endowed with such powers, one can attain these powers on this planet by performing different yogic practices.
TEXT 21
TEXT
yaksa-raksamsi bhutani
pisacah pisitasanah
bhutesa-vatsa duduhuh
kapale ksatajasavam
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
There are some types of living entities in the form of human beings whose living conditions and eatables are most abominable. Generally they eat flesh and fermented blood, which is mentioned in this verse as ksatajasavam. The leaders of such degraded men known as Yaksas, Raksasas, bhutas and pisacas, are all in the mode of ignorance. They have been placed under the control of Rudra. Rudra is the incarnation of Lord Siva and is in charge of the mode of ignorance in material nature. Another name of Lord Siva is Bhutanatha, meaning "master of ghosts." Rudra was born from between Brahma's eyes when Brahma was very angry at the four Kumaras.
TEXT 22
TEXT
tathahayo dandasukah
sarpa nagas ca taksakam
vidhaya vatsam duduhur
bila-patre visam payah
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
Within this material world there are various types of living entities, and the different types of reptiles and scorpions mentioned in this verse are also provided with their sustenance by the arrangement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The point is that everyone is taking his eatables from the planet earth. According to one's association with the material qualities, one develops a certain type of character. Payah-panam bhujanganam: if one feeds a serpent milk, the snake will simply increase his venom. However, if one supplies milk to a talented sage or saint, the sage will develop finer brain tissues by which he can contemplate higher, spiritual life. Thus the Lord is supplying everyone food, but according to the living entity's association with the modes of material nature, the living entity develops his specific character.
TEXTS 23-24
TEXT
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
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
There are many carnivorous birds descended from Garuda, the winged carrier of Lord Visnu. Indeed, there is a particular type of bird that is very fond of eating monkeys. Eagles are fond of eating goats, and of course many birds eat only fruits and berries. Therefore the words caram, referring to moving animals, and acaram, referring to grasses, fruits and vegetables, are mentioned in this verse.
TEXT 25
TEXT
vata-vatsa vanaspatayah
prthag rasamayam payah
girayo himavad-vatsa
nana-dhatun sva-sanusu
SYNONYMS
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 Himalayas 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 Himalayas into a calf, and they milked a variety of minerals into a pot made of the peaks of hills.
TEXT 26
TEXT
sarve sva-mukhya-vatsena
sve sve patre prthak payah
sarva-kama-dugham prthvim
duduhuh prthu-bhavitam
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
This is evidence that the Lord supplies food to everyone. As confirmed in the Vedas: eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. Although the Lord is one, He is supplying all necessities to everyone through the medium of the planet earth. There are different varieties of living entities on different planets, and they all derive their eatables from their planets in different forms. On the basis of these descriptions, how can one assume that there is no living entity on the moon? Every moon is earthly, being composed of the five elements. Every planet produces different types of food according to the needs of its residents. According to the Vedic sastras, it is not true that the moon does not produce food or that no living entity is living there.
TEXT 27
TEXT
evam prthv-adayah prthvim
annadah svannam atmanah
doha-vatsadi-bhedena
ksira-bhedam kurudvaha
SYNONYMS
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
TEXT
tato mahipatih pritah
sarva-kama-dugham prthuh
duhitrtve cakaremam
premna duhitr-vatsalah
SYNONYMS
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
TEXT
curnayan sva-dhanus-kotya
giri-kutani raja-rat
bhu-mandalam idam vainyah
prayas cakre samam vibhuh
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
Generally the mountainous and hilly portions of the earth are made flat by the striking of thunderbolts. Generally this is the business of King Indra of the heavenly planets, but King Prthu, an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, did not wait for King Indra to break up the hills and mountains but did so himself by using his strong bow.
TEXT 30
TEXT
athasmin bhagavan vainyah
prajanam vrttidah pita
nivasan kalpayam cakre
tatra tatra yatharhatah
SYNONYMS
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
TEXT
graman purah pattanani
durgani vividhani ca
ghosan vrajan sa-sibiran
akaran kheta-kharvatan
SYNONYMS
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
TEXT
prak prthor iha naivaisa
pura-gramadi-kalpana
yatha-sukham vasanti sma
tatra tatrakutobhayah
SYNONYMS
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.
PURPORT
From this statement it appears that town and city planning is not new but has been coming down since the time of King Prthu. In India we can see regular planning methods evident in very old cities. In Srimad-Bhagavatam there are many descriptions of such ancient cities. Even five thousand years ago, Lord Krsna's capital, Dvaraka, was well planned, and similar other cities--Mathura and Hastinapura (now New Delhi)--were also well planned. Thus the planning of cities and towns is not a modern innovation but was existing in bygone ages.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fourth Canto, Eighteenth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "Prthu Maharaja Milks the Earth Planet."