Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 1
Pṛthu Mahārāja Milks the Earth (Bhūmi-dugdha) and Organizes Human Settlement
मैत्रेय उवाच इत्थं पृथुमभिष्टूय रुषा प्रस्फुरिताधरम् । पुनराहावनिर्भीता संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना ॥ १ ॥
maitreya uvāca itthaṁ pṛthum abhiṣṭūya ruṣā prasphuritādharam punar āhāvanir bhītā saṁstabhyātmānam ātmanā
Maitreya dit : Ô Vidura, bien que la Terre eût achevé ses prières, le roi Pṛthu ne s’apaisa pas; ses lèvres tremblaient de colère. La Terre, quoique effrayée, se raffermit et parla de nouveau afin de convaincre le roi, ainsi :
FAQs
This verse shows Bhūmi (the Earth) speaking again without fear, indicating that inner steadiness and dharmic conviction can keep one composed even before an angry, powerful person.
After offering praise to pacify the situation, she continued her explanation to Pṛthu—despite his visible anger—because she needed to present her reasons and the dharmic context of her actions.
When facing confrontation, first de-escalate respectfully, then speak truth calmly—staying grounded through inner discipline rather than reacting to the other person’s emotion.