Shloka 36
Pṛthu Pursues the Earth and the Earth Takes the Form of a Cow
Bhūmi as Gauḥ
नूनं जनैरीहितमीश्वराणा- मस्मद्विधैस्तद्गुणसर्गमायया । न ज्ञायते मोहितचित्तवर्त्मभि- स्तेभ्यो नमो वीरयशस्करेभ्य: ॥ ३६ ॥
nūnaṁ janair īhitam īśvarāṇām asmad-vidhais tad-guṇa-sarga-māyayā na jñāyate mohita-citta-vartmabhis tebhyo namo vīra-yaśas-karebhyaḥ
يا ربّ، إن مقاصد السادة—مقاصدك—لا يدركها أمثالنا المكوَّنين من مايا الصفات الثلاث، إذ تسير عقولنا في طريق الوهم. وحتى أفعال عبّادك (البهاكتا) لا نفهمها، فكيف بليلاك الإلهية؛ فلك السجود لأولئك الذين يزيدون مجدك وبأسك شهرةً.
The activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His various forms and incarnations are always uncommon and wonderful. It is not possible for a tiny human being to estimate the purpose and plans of such activities; therefore Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has said that unless the Lord’s activities are accepted as inconceivable, they cannot be explained. The Lord is eternally existing as Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in Goloka Vṛndāvana. He has also simultaneously expanded Himself in innumerable forms, beginning with Lord Rāma, Lord Nṛsiṁha, Lord Varāha and all the incarnations coming directly from Saṅkarṣaṇa. Saṅkarṣaṇa is the expansion of Baladeva, and Baladeva is the first manifestation of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore all these incarnations are known as kalā.
FAQs
This verse states that ordinary people, bewildered by the Lord’s māyā and the complexities of creation, cannot fully grasp the intentions of the Supreme; the proper response is humility and reverence for true devotees.
In the Pṛthu–Bhūmi narrative, Bhūmi acknowledges that divine arrangements can be difficult to comprehend and offers respect toward the Lord’s heroic devotees—implicitly honoring Pṛthu’s divinely guided role in restoring order and prosperity.
When outcomes feel confusing, practice humility: do your duty sincerely, avoid pride in judgment about “why God did this,” and seek guidance from saintly devotees who live to glorify the Lord.