Text 15] Maharaja Prthu Becomes Angry at the Earth 677

TEXT 14

WI To Harnad + TT |
TM: AANA WT WATT ell

pravepamana dharani
nigamyodayudham ca tam

gauh saty apddravad bhita
mrgiva mrgayu-druta

pravepamana—trembling; dharapi—the earth; nisamya—seeing; udayu-
dham-—having taken his bow and arrow; ca—also; tam—the King; gauh—a
cow; sati—becoming; apadravat—began to flee; bhita—very much afraid;
mrgt iva—like a deer; mrgayu—by a hunter; druta—being followed.

TRANSLATION

When the earth saw that King Prthu was taking his bow and arrow to kill
her, she became very much afraid and began to tremble. She then began to
flee, exactly as a deer, which runs very swiftly when followed by a hunter.
Being afraid of King Prthu, she took the shape of a cow and began to run.

PURPORT

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 Prthu, 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 Prthu’s arrows. King Prthu,
however, could understand this fact, and therefore he did not stop
chasing the cow-shaped earth.

TEXT 15

MAT: BltascaecteaT: |

Bt aad AT TT AT Tea LI

tam anvadhdvat tad vainyah
kupito ‘tyaruneksanah
