Shloka 18

Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent

Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear

Devanagari script

गौर्भूत्वाश्रुमुखी खिन्ना क्रन्दन्ती करुणं विभो: । उपस्थितान्तिके तस्मै व्यसनं समवोचत ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

gaur bhūtvāśru-mukhī khinnā krandantī karuṇaṁ vibhoḥ upasthitāntike tasmai vyasanaṁ samavocata

Translation

Mother Earth assumed the form of a cow; distressed and tearful, she wept piteously, approached Lord Brahmā, and spoke to him of her misfortune.

Synonyms

• गौः: the cow (Earth as cow)
• गौः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having become)

• अश्रु-मुखी: tear-faced
• अश्रु-मुखी: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier of गौः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्रु + मुखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (अश्रुभिः मुखं यस्याः/whose face is with tears)

• खिन्ना: distressed
• खिन्ना: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier of गौः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खिन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्रन्दन्ती: crying
• क्रन्दन्ती: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Descriptive participle of गौः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रन्द् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (Present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• करुणम्: piteously
• करुणम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: करुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)

• विभोः: of the Lord
• विभोः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• उपस्थित-अन्तिके: near (in the presence)
• उपस्थित-अन्तिके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपस्थित + अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (उपस्थितस्य अन्तिके/at the proximity of one who is present)

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• व्यसनम्: distress, calamity
• व्यसनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समवोचत: told, spoke
• समवोचत: क्रिया (Kriyā/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: सम्+अव

Characters & Entities

• Bhūmi (Earth goddess as a cow)
• Vibhu (Lord Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

Why does the Earth appear as a cow and cry in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.1?

The Earth (Bhūmi) takes the symbolic form of a cow to express her suffering under the burden of irreligious rulers and violence, approaching the Supreme Lord for protection and relief.

To whom did Bhūmi Devi speak her distress in Bhagavatam 10.1.18?

She approached the all-powerful Lord (Vibhu—understood as Lord Viṣṇu, who arranges the descent of Kṛṣṇa) and explained the calamity afflicting the world.

What is the practical lesson of this verse for modern life?

When overwhelmed by suffering, one should take shelter of the Supreme Lord with sincerity—bringing one’s troubles to Him through prayer, devotion, and dharmic living, trusting in divine guidance.