Shloka 17
Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent
Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear
भूमिर्दृप्तनृपव्याजदैत्यानीकशतायुतै: । आक्रान्ता भूरिभारेण ब्रह्माणं शरणं ययौ ॥ १७ ॥
bhūmir dṛpta-nṛpa-vyāja- daityānīka-śatāyutaiḥ ākrāntā bhūri-bhāreṇa brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ yayau
Once, when Mother Earth was oppressed by the immense burden of hundreds of thousands of military hosts of arrogant daityas masquerading as kings, she went to Lord Brahmā for shelter and relief.
When the world is overburdened by unnecessary military arrangements and when various demoniac kings are the executive heads of state, this burden causes the appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (4.7) :
FAQs
Because Earth is oppressed by the heavy burden of demonic forces posing as kings, so she seeks higher divine help through Brahmā to restore dharma.
It indicates rulers who hold royal power outwardly but act with daityic (demonic) qualities—pride, violence, and adharma—thereby becoming a burden to the world.
It teaches discernment and accountability: when leadership becomes ego-driven and harmful, one should seek shelter in higher principles—dharma, prayer, and saintly guidance—rather than accepting oppression as normal.