Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 26
Pṛthu Mahārāja Milks the Earth (Bhūmi-dugdha) and Organizes Human Settlement
सर्वे स्वमुख्यवत्सेन स्वे स्वे पात्रे पृथक् पय: । सर्वकामदुघां पृथ्वीं दुदुहु: पृथुभाविताम् ॥ २६ ॥
sarve sva-mukhya-vatsena sve sve pātre pṛthak payaḥ sarva-kāma-dughāṁ pṛthvīṁ duduhuḥ pṛthu-bhāvitām
سب نے اپنے اپنے بڑے بچھڑے کے ذریعے اپنے اپنے برتنوں میں زمین سے الگ الگ ‘دودھ’ یعنی اپنی اپنی خوراک دوہ لی۔ راجا پرتھو کے عہد میں زمین اس کے قابو میں تھی اور وہ سَروَکامَدُغھا بن گئی تھی؛ اس لیے تمام باشندوں کو اپنی ضرورت کے مطابق رزق میسر آیا۔
This is evidence that the Lord supplies food to everyone. As confirmed in the Vedas, eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān: although the Lord is one, He is supplying all necessities to everyone through the medium of the planet earth. There are different varieties of living entities on different planets, and they all derive their eatables from their planets in different forms. On the basis of these descriptions, how can one assume that there is no living entity on the moon? Every moon is earthly, being composed of the five elements. Every planet produces different types of food according to the needs of its residents. According to the Vedic śāstras, it is not true that the moon does not produce food or that no living entity is living there.
FAQs
This verse says that when the Earth is properly guided and encouraged by a dharmic ruler like Pṛthu, she becomes sarva-kāma-dughā—able to supply all necessities and fulfill rightful desires for all beings.
Because each class of beings sought its own specific form of nourishment; by using their own chief representative as the “calf,” they drew from the same Earth distinct supplies suited to their nature.
Prosperity should come through dharma: responsible leadership, ethical use of resources, and taking only what is needed—so nature’s gifts are received as sustenance, not exploited as greed.