196 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 6, Ch. 4

maintainer of all herbs and trees. To appease the anger of the Pra-
cetas, Soma spoke as follows.

PURPORT

It is understood from this verse that the predominating deity of the
moon is the maintainer of all the trees and plants throughout the uni-
verse. It is due to the moonshine that trees and plants grow very lux-
uriantly. Therefore how can we accept the so-called scientists whose
moon expeditions have informed us that there are no trees or vegetation
on the moon? Srila Vigvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says, somo
urksddhisthata sa eva urksanam raja: Soma, the predominating deity of
the moon, is the king of all vegetation. How can we believe that the
maintainer of vegetation has no vegetation on his own planet?

TEXT 7

a gett mera Are ANTE |
qa WAT TIT: BAT: I 9 Il

na drumebhyo maha-bhaga
dinebhyo drogdhum arhatha

vivardhayisavo yityam
prajanam patayah smrtah

na—not; drumebhyah—the trees; mahd-bhagah—O greatly fortu-
nate ones; dinebhyah—who are very poor; drogdhum—to burn to ashes;
arhatha—you deserve; vivardhayisavah—desiring to bring about an in-
crease; yliyam—you; prajanadm—of all living entities who have taken
shelter of you; patayah—the masters or protectors: smrtah—known as.

TRANSLATION

O greatly fortunate ones, you should not kill these poor trees by
burning them to ashes. Your duty is to wish the citizens [prajas] all
prosperity and to act as their protectors,
