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
گائے کی صورت والی دھرتی نے پھر فریاد کی: “میں نہایت بےبس ہوں اور میں نے کوئی گناہ نہیں کیا؛ پھر آپ مجھے کیوں قتل کرنا چاہتے ہیں؟ آپ تو دھرم کے جاننے والے سمجھے جاتے ہیں؛ پھر مجھ سے حسد کیوں، اور ایک عورت کو مارنے کے لیے اتنے بےتاب کیوں ہیں؟”
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.