Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 4: “The Creation of the Fourth Order”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Eighteen
SB4.18.15
TEXT 15
krtva vatsam sura-gana
indram somam aduduhan
hiranmayena patrena
viryam ojo balam payah
SYNONYMS
krtva—making; vatsam—calf; sura-ganah—the demigods; indram—Indra, King of heaven; somam—nectar; aduduhan—they milked out; hiranmayena—golden; patrena—with a pot; viryam—mental power; ojah—strength of the senses; balam—strength of the body; payah—milk.
TRANSLATION
All the demigods made Indra, the King of heaven, into a calf, and from the earth they milked the beverage soma, which is nectar. Thus they became very powerful in mental speculation and bodily and sensual strength.
PURPORT
In this verse the word soma means “nectar.” Soma is a kind of beverage made in the heavenly planets from the moon to the kingdoms of the demigods in the various higher planetary systems. By drinking this soma beverage the demigods become more powerful mentally and increase their sensual power and bodily strength. The words hiranmayena patrena indicate that this soma beverage is not an ordinary intoxicating liquor. The demigods would not touch any kind of liquor. Nor is soma a kind of drug. It is a different kind of beverage, available in the heavenly planets. Soma is far different from the liquors made for demoniac people, as explained in the next verse. SB4.18.16 TEXT 16 daiteya danava vatsam prahladam asurarsabham vidhayaduduhan ksiram ayah-patre surasavam SYNONYMS daiteyah—the sons of Diti; danavah—demons; vatsam—the calf; prahladam—Prahlada Maharaja; asura—demon; rsabham—the chief; vidhaya—making; aduduhan—they milked out; ksiram—milk; ayah—iron; patre—in a pot; sura—liquor; asavam—fermented liquids like beer. TRANSLATION The sons of Diti and the demons transformed Prahlada Maharaja, who was born in an asura family, into a calf, and they extracted various kinds of liquor and beer, which they put into a pot made of iron. PURPORT The demons also have their own types of beverages in the form of liquors and beers, just as the demigods use soma-rasa for their drinking purposes. The demons born of Diti take great pleasure in drinking wine and beer. Even today people of demoniac nature are very much addicted to liquor and beer. The name of Prahlada Maharaja is very significant in this connection. Because Prahlada Maharaja was born in a family of demons, as the son of Hiranyakasipu, by his mercy the demons were and still are able to have their drinks in the form of wine and beer. The word ayah (iron) is very significant. Whereas the nectarean soma was put in a golden pot, the liquors and beers were put in an iron pot. Because the liquor and beer are inferior, they are placed in an iron pot, and because soma-rasa is superior, it is placed in a golden pot. SB4.18.17 TEXT 17 gandharvapsaraso ’dhuksan patre padmamaye payah vatsam visvavasum krtva gandharvam madhu saubhagam SYNONYMS gandharva—inhabitants of the Gandharva planet; apsarasah—the inhabitants of the Apsara planet; adhuksan—milked out; patre—in a pot; padma-maye—made of a lotus; payah—milk; vatsam—calf; visvavasum—of the name Visvavasu; krtva—making; gandharvam—songs; madhu—sweet; saubhagam—beauty. TRANSLATION The inhabitants of Gandharvaloka and Apsaroloka made Visvavasu into a calf, and they drew the milk into a lotus flower pot. The milk took the shape of sweet musical art and beauty. SB4.18.18 TEXT 18 vatsena pitaro ’ryamna kavyam ksiram adhuksata ama-patre maha-bhagah sraddhaya sraddha-devatah SYNONYMS vatsena—by the calf; pitarah—the inhabitants of Pitrloka; aryamna—by the god of Pitrloka, Aryama; kavyam—offerings of food to ancestors; ksiram—milk; adhuksata—took out; ama-patre—into an unbaked earthen pot; maha-bhagah—the greatly fortunate; sraddhaya—with great faith; sraddha-devatah—the demigods presiding over sraddha ceremonies in honor of deceased relatives. TRANSLATION The fortunate inhabitants of Pitrloka, who preside over the funeral ceremonies, made Aryama into a calf. With great faith they milked kavya, food offered to the ancestors, into an unbaked earthen pot. PURPORT In Bhagavad-gita (9.25) it is said, pitrn yanti pitr-vratah. Those who are interested in family welfare are called pitr-vratah. There is a planet called Pitrloka, and the predominating deity of that planet is called Aryama. He is somewhat of a demigod, and by satisfying him one can help ghostly family members develop a gross body. Those who are very sinful and attached to their family, house, village or country do not receive a gross body made of material elements but remain in a subtle body, composed of mind, ego and intelligence. Those who live in such subtle bodies are called ghosts. This ghostly position is very painful because a ghost has intelligence, mind and ego and wants to enjoy material life, but because he doesn’t have a gross material body, he can only create disturbances for want of material satisfaction. It is the duty of family members, especially the son, to offer oblations to the demigod Aryama or to Lord Visnu. From time immemorial in India the son of a dead man goes to Gaya and, at a Visnu temple there, offers oblations for the benefit of his ghostly father. It is not that everyone’s father becomes a ghost, but the oblations of pinda are offered to the lotus feet of Lord Visnu so that if a family member happens to become a ghost, he will be favored with a gross body. However, if one is habituated to taking the prasada of Lord Visnu, there is no chance of his becoming a ghost or anything lower than a human being. In Vedic civilization there is a performance called sraddha by which food is offered with faith and devotion. If one offers oblations with faith and devotion—either to the lotus feet of Lord Visnu or to His representative in Pitrloka, Aryama—one’s forefathers will attain material bodies to enjoy whatever material enjoyment is due them. In other words, they do not have to become ghosts. SB4.18.19 TEXT 19 prakalpya vatsam kapilam siddhah sankalpanamayim siddhim nabhasi vidyam ca ye ca vidyadharadayah SYNONYMS prakalpya—appointing; vatsam—calf; kapilam—the great sage Kapila; siddhah—the inhabitants of Siddhaloka; sankalpana-mayim—proceeding from will; siddhim—yogic perfection; nabhasi—in the sky; vidyam—knowledge; ca—also; ye—those who; ca—also; vidyadhara-adayah—the inhabitants of Vidyadhara-loka, and so on. TRANSLATION After this, the inhabitants of Siddhaloka, as well as the inhabitants of Vidyadhara-loka, transformed the great sage Kapila into a calf, and making the whole sky into a pot, they milked out specific yogic mystic powers, beginning with anima. Indeed, the inhabitants of Vidyadhara-loka acquired the art of flying in the sky. PURPORT The inhabitants of both Siddhaloka and Vidyadhara-loka are naturally endowed with mystic yogic powers by which they not only can fly in outer space without a vehicle but can also fly from one planet to another simply by exerting their will. Just as fish can swim within water, the residents of Vidyadhara-loka can swim in the ocean of air. As far as the inhabitants of Siddhaloka are concerned, they are endowed with all mystic powers. The yogis in this planet practice the eightfold yogic mysticism—namely yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. By regularly practicing the yogic processes one after another, the yogis attain various perfections; they can become smaller than the smallest, heavier than the heaviest, etc. They can even manufacture a planet, get whatever they like and control whatever man they want. All the residents of Siddhaloka are naturally endowed with these mystic yogic powers. It is certainly a very wonderful thing if we see a person on this planet flying in the sky without a vehicle, but in Vidyadhara-loka such flying is as commonplace as a bird’s flying in the sky. Similarly, in Siddhaloka all the inhabitants are great yogis, perfect in mystic powers. The name of Kapila Muni is significant in this verse because He was the expounder of the Sankhya philosophical system, and His father, Kardama Muni, was a great yogi and mystic. Indeed, Kardama Muni prepared a great airplane, which was as large as a small town and had various gardens, palatial buildings, servants and maidservants. With all this paraphernalia, Kapiladeva’s mother, Devahuti, and His father, Kardama Muni, traveled all over the universes and visited different planets. SB4.18.20 TEXT 20 anye ca mayino mayam antardhanadbhutatmanam mayam prakalpya vatsam te duduhur dharanamayim SYNONYMS anye—others; ca—also; mayinah—mystic magicians; mayam—mystic powers; antardhana—disappearing; adbhuta—wonderful; atmanam—of the body; mayam—the demon named Maya; prakalpya—making; vatsam—the calf; te—they; duduhuh—milked out; dharanamayim—proceeding from will. TRANSLATION Others also, the inhabitants of planets known as Kimpurusa-loka, made the demon Maya into a calf, and they milked out mystic powers by which one can disappear immediately from another’s vision and appear again in a different form. PURPORT It is said that the inhabitants of Kimpurusa-loka can perform many wonderful mystic demonstrations. In other words, they can exhibit as many wonderful things as one can imagine. The inhabitants of this planet can do whatever they like, or whatever they imagine. Such powers are also mystic powers. The possession of such mystic power is called isita. The demons generally learn such mystic powers by the practice of yoga. In the Dasama-skandha, the Tenth Canto, of Srimad-Bhagavatam, there is a vivid description of how the demons appear before Krsna in various wonderful forms. For instance, Bakasura appeared before Krsna and His cowherd boyfriends as a gigantic crane. While present on this planet, Lord Krsna had to fight with many demons who could exhibit the wonderful mystic powers of Kimpurusa-loka. Although the inhabitants of Kimpurusa-loka are naturally endowed with such powers, one can attain these powers on this planet by performing different yogic practices. SB4.18.21 TEXT 21 yaksa-raksamsi bhutani pisacah pisitasanah bhutesa-vatsa duduhuh kapale ksatajasavam SYNONYMS yaksa—the Yaksas (the descendants of Kuvera); raksamsi—the Raksasas (meat-eaters); bhutani—ghosts; pisacah—witches; pisita-asanah—who are all habituated to eating flesh; bhutesa—Lord Siva’s incarnation Rudra; vatsah—whose calf; duduhuh—milked out; kapale—in a pot of skulls; ksata-ja—blood; asavam—a fermented beverage. TRANSLATION Then the Yaksas, Raksasas, ghosts and witches, who are habituated to eating flesh, transformed Lord Siva’s incarnation Rudra [Bhutanatha] into a calf and milked out beverages made of blood and put them in a pot made of skulls. PURPORT There are some types of living entities in the form of human beings whose living conditions and eatables are most abominable. Generally they eat flesh and fermented blood, which is mentioned in this verse as ksatajasavam. The leaders of such degraded men known as Yaksas, Raksasas, bhutas and pisacas, are all in the mode of ignorance. They have been placed under the control of Rudra. Rudra is the incarnation of Lord Siva and is in charge of the mode of ignorance in material nature. Another name of Lord Siva is Bhutanatha, meaning “master of ghosts.” Rudra was born from between Brahma’s eyes when Brahma was very angry at the four Kumaras. SB4.18.22 TEXT 22 tathahayo dandasukah sarpa nagas ca taksakam vidhaya vatsam duduhur bila-patre visam payah SYNONYMS tatha—similarly; ahayah—snakes without hoods; dandasukah—scorpions; sarpah—cobras; nagah—big snakes; ca—and; taksakam—Taksaka, chief of the snakes; vidhaya—making; vatsam—calf; duduhuh—milked out; bila-patre—in the pot of snake holes; visam—poison; payah—as milk. TRANSLATION Thereafter cobras and snakes without hoods, large snakes, scorpions and many other poisonous animals took poison out of the planet earth as their milk and kept this poison in snake holes. They made a calf out of Taksaka. PURPORT Within this material world there are various types of living entities, and the different types of reptiles and scorpions mentioned in this verse are also provided with their sustenance by the arrangement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The point is that everyone is taking his eatables from the planet earth. According to one’s association with the material qualities, one develops a certain type of character. Payah-panam bhujanganam: if one feeds a serpent milk, the snake will simply increase his venom. However, if one supplies milk to a talented sage or saint, the sage will develop finer brain tissues by which he can contemplate higher, spiritual life. Thus the Lord is supplying everyone food, but according to the living entity’s association with the modes of material nature, the living entity develops his specific character. SB4.18.23-24 TEXTS 23–24 pasavo yavasam ksiram vatsam krtva ca go-vrsam aranya-patre cadhuksan mrgendrena ca damstrinah kravyadah praninah kravyam duduhuh sve kalevare suparna-vatsa vihagas caram cacaram eva ca SYNONYMS pasavah—cattle; yavasam—green grasses; ksiram—milk; vatsam—the calf; krtva—making; ca—also; go-vrsam—the bull carrier of Lord Siva; aranya-patre—in the pot of the forest; ca—also; adhuksan—milked out; mrga-indrena—by the lion; ca—and; damstrinah—animals with sharp teeth; kravya-adah—animals who eat raw flesh; praninah—living entities; kravyam—flesh; duduhuh—took out; sve—own; kalevare—in the pot of their body; suparna—Garuda; vatsah—whose calf; vihagah—the birds; caram—moving living entities; ca—also; acaram—nonmoving living entities; eva—certainly; ca—also. TRANSLATION The four-legged animals like the cows made a calf out of the bull who carries Lord Siva and made a milking pot out of the forest. Thus they got fresh green grasses to eat. Ferocious animals like tigers transformed a lion into a calf, and thus they were able to get flesh for milk. The birds made a calf out of Garuda and took milk from the planet earth in the form of moving insects and nonmoving plants and grasses. PURPORT There are many carnivorous birds descended from Garuda, the winged carrier of Lord Visnu. Indeed, there is a particular type of bird that is very fond of eating monkeys. Eagles are fond of eating goats, and of course many birds eat only fruits and berries. Therefore the words caram, referring to moving animals, and acaram, referring to grasses, fruits and vegetables, are mentioned in this verse. SB4.18.25 TEXT 25 vata-vatsa vanaspatayah prthag rasamayam payah girayo himavad-vatsa nana-dhatun sva-sanusu SYNONYMS vata-vatsah—making the banyan tree a calf; vanah-patayah—the trees; prthak—different; rasa-mayam—in the form of juices; payah—milk; girayah—the hills and mountains; himavat-vatsah—making the Himalayas the calf; nana—various; dhatun—minerals; sva—own; sanusu—on their peaks. TRANSLATION The trees made a calf out of the banyan tree, and thus they derived milk in the form of many delicious juices. The mountains transformed the Himalayas into a calf, and they milked a variety of minerals into a pot made of the peaks of hills. SB4.18.26 TEXT 26 sarve sva-mukhya-vatsena sve sve patre prthak payah sarva-kama-dugham prthvim duduhuh prthu-bhavitam SYNONYMS sarve—all; sva-mukhya—by their own chiefs; vatsena—as the calf; sve sve—in their own; patre—pots; prthak—different; payah—milk; sarva-kama—all desirables; dugham—supplying as milk; prthvim—the planet earth; duduhuh—milked out; prthu-bhavitam—controlled by King Prthu. TRANSLATION The planet earth supplied everyone his respective food. During the time of King Prthu, the earth was fully under the control of the King. Thus all the inhabitants of the earth could get their food supply by creating various types of calves and putting their particular types of milk in various pots. PURPORT This is evidence that the Lord supplies food to everyone. As confirmed in the Vedas: eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. 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 sastras, it is not true that the moon does not produce food or that no living entity is living there. SB4.18.27 TEXT 27 evam prthv-adayah prthvim annadah svannam atmanah doha-vatsadi-bhedena ksira-bhedam kurudvaha SYNONYMS evam—thus; prthu-adayah—King Prthu and others; prthvim—the earth; anna-adah—all living entities desiring food; su-annam—their desired foodstuff; atmanah—for self-preservation; doha—for milking; vatsa-adi—by calves, pots and milkers; bhedena—different; ksira—milk; bhedam—different; kuru-udvaha—O chief of the Kurus. TRANSLATION My dear Vidura, chief of the Kurus, in this way King Prthu and all the others who subsist on food created different types of calves and milked out their respective eatables. Thus they received their various foodstuffs, which were symbolized as milk. SB4.18.28 TEXT 28 tato mahipatih pritah sarva-kama-dugham prthuh duhitrtve cakaremam premna duhitr-vatsalah SYNONYMS tatah—thereafter; mahi-patih—the King; pritah—being pleased; sarva-kama—all desirables; dugham—producing as milk; prthuh—King Prthu; duhitrtve—treating as his daughter; cakara—did; imam—unto the planet earth; premna—out of affection; duhitr-vatsalah—affectionate to his daughter. TRANSLATION Thereafter King Prthu was very satisfied with the planet earth, for she sufficiently supplied all food to various living entities. Thus he developed an affection for the planet earth, just as if she were his own daughter. SB4.18.29 TEXT 29 curnayan sva-dhanus-kotya giri-kutani raja-rat bhu-mandalam idam vainyah prayas cakre samam vibhuh SYNONYMS curnayan—making into pieces; sva—his own; dhanuh-kotya—by the power of his bow; giri—of the hills; kutani—the tops; raja-rat—the emperor; bhu-mandalam—the whole earth; idam—this; vainyah—the son of Vena; prayah—almost; cakre—made; samam—level; vibhuh—the powerful. TRANSLATION After this, the king of all kings, Maharaja Prthu, leveled all rough places on the surface of the globe by breaking up the hills with the strength of his bow. By his grace the surface of the globe almost became flat. PURPORT Generally the mountainous and hilly portions of the earth are made flat by the striking of thunderbolts. Generally this is the business of King Indra of the heavenly planets, but King Prthu, an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, did not wait for King Indra to break up the hills and mountains but did so himself by using his strong bow. SB4.18.30 TEXT 30 athasmin bhagavan vainyah prajanam vrttidah pita nivasan kalpayam cakre tatra tatra yatharhatah SYNONYMS atha—thus; asmin—on this planet earth; bhagavan—the Personality of Godhead; vainyah—son of Vena; prajanam—of the citizens; vrttidah—who supplies employment; pita—a father; nivasan—residences; kalpayam—suitable; cakre—make; tatra tatra—here and there; yatha—as; arhatah—desirable, suitable. TRANSLATION To all the citizens of the state, King Prthu was as good as a father. Thus he was visibly engaged in giving them proper subsistence and proper employment for subsistence. After leveling the surface of the globe, he earmarked different places for residential quarters, inasmuch as they were desirable. SB4.18.31 TEXT 31 graman purah pattanani durgani vividhani ca ghosan vrajan sa-sibiran akaran kheta-kharvatan SYNONYMS graman—villages; purah—cities; pattanani—settlements; durgani—forts; vividhani—of different varieties; ca—also; ghosan—habitations for the milkmen; vrajan—pens for cattle; sa-sibiran—with camps; akaran—mines; kheta—agricultural towns; kharvatan—mountain villages. TRANSLATION In this way the King founded many types of villages, settlements and towns and built forts, residences for cowherdsmen, stables for the animals, and places for the royal camps, mining places, agricultural towns and mountain villages. SB4.18.32 TEXT 32 prak prthor iha naivaisa pura-gramadi-kalpana yatha-sukham vasanti sma tatra tatrakutobhayah SYNONYMS prak—before; prthoh—King Prthu; iha—on this planet; na—never; eva—certainly; esa—this; pura—of towns; grama-adi—of villages, etc.; kalpana—planned arrangement; yatha—as; sukham—convenient; vasanti sma—lived; tatra tatra—here and there; akutah-bhayah—without hesitation. TRANSLATION Before the reign of King Prthu there was no planned arrangement for different cities, villages, pasturing grounds, etc. Every thing was scattered, and everyone constructed his residential quarters according to his own convenience. However, since King Prthu plans were made for towns and villages. PURPORT From this statement it appears that town and city planning is not new but has been coming down since the time of King Prthu. In India we can see regular planning methods evident in very old cities. In Srimad-Bhagavatam there are many descriptions of such ancient cities. Even five thousand years ago, Lord Krsna’s capital, Dvaraka, was well planned, and similar other cities—Mathura and Hastinapura (now New Delhi)—were also well planned. Thus the planning of cities and towns is not a modern innovation but was existing in bygone ages. Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fourth Canto, Eighteenth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “Prthu Maharaja Milks the Earth Planet.”