Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 19
Pṛthu Pursues the Earth and the Earth Takes the Form of a Cow
Bhūmi as Gauḥ
स त्वं जिघांससे कस्माद्दीनामकृतकिल्बिषाम् । अहनिष्यत्कथं योषां धर्मज्ञ इति यो मत: ॥ १९ ॥
sa tvaṁ jighāṁsase kasmād dīnām akṛta-kilbiṣām ahaniṣyat kathaṁ yoṣāṁ dharma-jña iti yo mataḥ
গোৰূপিণী পৃথিৱীয়ে পুনৰ মিনতি কৰিলে— “মই দীন, আৰু মই কোনো পাপ কৰোঁ নাছিলোঁ; তেন্তে আপুনি মোক কিয় হত্যা কৰিব বিচাৰে? আপুনি ধৰ্মজ্ঞ বুলি জনা যায়; তেন্তে মোৰ প্ৰতি ঈৰ্ষা কিয়, আৰু এজনী নাৰীক মাৰিবলৈ ইমান উদ্গ্ৰীৱ কিয়?”
The earth appealed to the King in two ways. A king who knows religious principles cannot kill anyone who has not committed sinful activities. Apart from this, a woman is not to be killed, even if she does commit some sinful activities. Since the earth was innocent and was also a woman, the King should not kill her.
FAQs
This verse condemns violence against the helpless and blameless, presenting protection of the innocent as a core requirement of dharma.
In the narrative, Pṛthu asserts rāja-dharma: even when punishing wrongdoing, a ruler must not commit irreligion—especially violence toward women and the defenseless.
Use power—authority, speech, or influence—only to protect and uplift; avoid targeting vulnerable people, and ensure justice is guided by ethics, not anger.