Text 21] Maharaja Prthu Becomes Angry at the Earth 681

praharanti na vai strisu
krtagahsv api jantavah

kim uta tvad-vidha rajan
karund dina-vatsalah

praharanti—strike; na—never ; vai—certainly; strisu—women; krta-dgahsu—
having committed sinful activities; api—although; jantavah—human beings;
kim uta—then what to speak of; tvat-vidhah—personalities like you; rajan—
O King; karunah—merciful; dina-vatsalah—affectionate to the poor.

TRANSLATION

Even if a woman does commit some sinful activity, no one should place
his hand upon her. And what to speak of you, dear King, who are so merci-
ful. You are a protector, and you are affectionate to the poor.

TEXT 21

at foreman ard aa fast satay |
AA AIA: SIAHAA TAT 122

mam vipatydjaram navam
yatra visvarit pratisthitam

atmdnam ca prajas cemah
katham ambhasi dhasyasi

mam—me; vipdtya—breaking to pieces; ajaradm—very strong; navam—
boat; yatra— where; visvam—all worldly paraphernalia; pratisthitam—stand-
ing; dtmanam—y ourself; ca—and; prajah—your subjects; ca—also; imah—all
these; katham—how; ambhasi—in the water; dhasyasi—you will hold.

TRANSLATION

The cow-shaped earth continued: My dear King, I am just like a strong
boat, and all the paraphernalia of the world is standing upon me. If you
break me to pieces, how can you protect yourself and your subjects from
drowning?

PURPORT

Beneath the entire planetary system is the garbha water. Lord Vignu lies
on this garbha water, and from His abdomen a lotus stem grows, and all
the planets within the universe are floating in the air being supported by
this lotus stem. If a planet is destroyed, it must fall into the water of
