Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 24
Pṛthu Mahārāja Milks the Earth (Bhūmi-dugdha) and Organizes Human Settlement
पशवो यवसं क्षीरं वत्सं कृत्वा च गोवृषम् । अरण्यपात्रे चाधुक्षन्मृगेन्द्रेण च दंष्ट्रिण: ॥ २३ ॥ क्रव्यादा: प्राणिन: क्रव्यं दुदुहु: स्वे कलेवरे । सुपर्णवत्सा विहगाश्चरं चाचरमेव च ॥ २४ ॥
paśavo yavasaṁ kṣīraṁ vatsaṁ kṛtvā ca go-vṛṣam araṇya-pātre cādhukṣan mṛgendreṇa ca daṁṣṭriṇaḥ
The four-legged animals like the cows made a calf out of the bull who carries Lord Śiva 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 Garuḍa and took milk from the planet earth in the form of moving insects and nonmoving plants and grasses.
There are many carnivorous birds descended from Garuḍa, the winged carrier of Lord Viṣṇu. Indeed, there is a particular type of bird that is very fond of eating monkeys, and eagles are fond of eating goats. 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.
FAQs
This verse explains that different classes of beings “milked” the Earth and received their own suitable sustenance—showing the Earth’s role as a divinely empowered provider for all life.
In the Pṛthu narrative, milking symbolizes orderly governance and dharma: when the king establishes righteousness, nature yields appropriately for every creature.
Treat natural resources as sacred and regulated by dharma—take what is needed responsibly, recognizing that different beings also have rightful shares.