Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 27

Pṛthu Mahārāja Milks the Earth (Bhūmi-dugdha) and Organizes Human Settlement

Devanagari script

एवं पृथ्वादय: पृथ्वीमन्नादा: स्वन्नमात्मन: । दोहवत्सादिभेदेन क्षीरभेदं कुरूद्वह ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ pṛthv-ādayaḥ pṛthvīm annādāḥ svannam ātmanaḥ doha-vatsādi-bhedena kṣīra-bhedaṁ kurūdvaha

Translation

My dear Vidura, chief of the Kurus, in this way King Pṛthu 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.

Synonyms

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• pṛthv-ādayaḥ: Earth and others (beginning with Earth)
• pṛthv-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthvī (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘beginning with Earth’), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• pṛthvīm: the Earth
• pṛthvīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthvī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• anna-ādāḥ: food-eaters
• anna-ādāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक) + āda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘eaters of food’), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• sva-annam: their own food
• sva-annam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘their own food’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ātmanaḥ: for themselves/of themselves
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• doha-vatsa-ādi-bhedena: by the difference in milking-method, calf, etc.
• doha-vatsa-ādi-bhedena: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: doha (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (‘by the distinction of milking, calf, etc.’), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• kṣīra-bhedam: the variety/difference of milk (yield)
• kṣīra-bhedam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक) + bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘difference of milk/produce’), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• kurūdvaha: O best of the Kurus
• kurūdvaha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kurūdvaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन-प्रयोग; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• Pṛthvī (Earth)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about different beings receiving different resources from the Earth?

This verse explains that by changing the milker, calf, and vessel, various beings ‘milk’ the Earth and receive different kinds of produce suited to their own needs and natures.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī address Parīkṣit as ‘kurūdvaha’ in this verse?

Śukadeva is narrating to King Parīkṣit and honors him as the foremost of the Kuru dynasty while explaining the universal arrangement established in the Pṛthu episode.

What is the practical application of this teaching in modern life?

It encourages responsible, dharmic use of nature—recognizing that resources are obtained according to one’s approach and purpose, and should be taken with restraint and gratitude rather than exploitation.