648 Stimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 16
krechra-pranah praja hy esa
raksisyaty atijasendraval

deve—when the demigod (Indra); avarsati—does not supply rains; asau—
that; devah—Maharaja Prthu; nara-deva—of the king; vapuh—having the
body; harih—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; krechra-pranah —suffer-
ing living entities; prajah—the citizens; hi—certainly; esah—this; raksisyati—
will protect; afijasd—very easily ; indra-vat—like King Indra.

TRANSLATION

When there is no rainfall and the citizens are in great danger due to the
scarcity of water, this royal personality of Godhead will be able to supply
rains exactly like the heavenly King Indra. Thus he will very easily be able
to protect the citizens from drought.

PURPORT

King Prthu is very appropriately compared to the sun and the demigod
Indra. King Indra of the heavenly planets is in charge of distributing
water over the earth and other planetary systems. It is indicated that King
Prthu would arrange for the distribution of rainfall personally if Indra failed
to discharge his duty properly. It is, however, indicated that sometimes the
King of heaven, Indra, would become angry at the inhabitants of the earth
if they did not offer sacrifices to appease him. However, being an incarna-
tion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, King Prthu did not depend
on the mercy of the heavenly King. It is foretold herein that if there would
be a scarcity of rain, King Prthu would manage to counteract the deficiency
by virtue of his godly powers. Such powers were also exhibited by Lord
Krsna when He was present in Vrndavana. Indeed, when Indra poured in-
cessant water on Vrndavana for seven days, the inhabitants were protected
by Krsna, who raised Govardhana Hill over their heads as a great umbrella.
Thus Lord Krgna is also known as govardhana-dhari.

TEXT 9
MITTIN Re Iarsagltar |
SIG UIC CIE MUL Co 162 |
apyayayaly asau lokam
vadanamrta-mértina
