Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 14
Pṛthu Pursues the Earth and the Earth Takes the Form of a Cow
Bhūmi as Gauḥ
प्रवेपमाना धरणी निशाम्योदायुधं च तम् । गौ: सत्यपाद्रवद्भीता मृगीव मृगयुद्रुता ॥ १४ ॥
pravepamānā dharaṇī niśāmyodāyudhaṁ ca tam gauḥ saty apādravad bhītā mṛgīva mṛgayu-drutā
அரசன் ஆயுதம் எடுத்ததைப் பார்த்ததும் பூமி நடுங்கத் தொடங்கினாள். பயத்தால் அவள் பசுவின் வடிவம் கொண்டு ஓடினாள்; வேட்டைக்காரன் துரத்தினால் மான் எவ்வளவு வேகமாக ஓடுமோ அப்படியே.
Just as a mother produces various children, both male and female, the womb of mother earth produces all kinds of living entities in various shapes. Thus it is possible for mother earth to take on innumerable shapes. At this time, in order to avoid the wrath of King Pṛthu, she took the shape of a cow. Since a cow is never to be killed, mother earth thought it wise to take the shape of a cow in order to avoid King Pṛthu’s arrows. King Pṛthu, however, could understand this fact, and therefore he did not stop chasing the cow-shaped earth.
FAQs
In this episode Earth takes the form of a cow to show she is the nourisher of all beings and also to indicate that when dharma is neglected, her ability to supply prosperity becomes ‘milked’ or diminished.
Pṛthu, as an ideal ruler, sought to restore dharma and prosperity for his citizens; seeing the Earth withholding her bounty, he pursued her to correct the imbalance and compel her to provide properly for the world.
Leadership and stewardship must protect and responsibly manage resources; when society neglects dharma and exploitation increases, nature ‘withholds’—so restoration requires accountability, humility, and proper care of the Earth.