Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 4.18.13

tathapare ca sarvatra

saram adadate budhah

tato 'nye ca yatha-kamam

duduhuh prithu-bhavitam

SYNONYMS

tatha -- so; apare -- others; ca -- also; sarvatra -- everywhere; saram -- the essence; adadate -- took; budhah -- the intelligent class of men; tatah -- thereafter; anye -- others; ca -- also; yatha-kamam -- as much as they desired; duduhuh -- milked; prithu-bhavitam -- the planet earth, controlled by Prithu Maharaja.

TRANSLATION

Others, who were as intelligent as King Prithu, also took the essence out of the earthly planet. Indeed, everyone took this opportunity to follow in the footsteps of King Prithu and get whatever he desired from the planet earth.

PURPORT

The planet earth is also called vasundhara. The word vasu means "wealth," and dhara means "one who holds." All creatures within the earth fulfill the necessities required for human beings, and all living entities can be taken out of the earth by the proper means. As suggested by the planet earth, and accepted and initiated by King Prithu, whatever is taken from the earth -- either from the mines, from the surface of the globe or from the atmosphere -- should always be considered the property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and should be used for Yajna, Lord Vishnu. As soon as the process of yajna is stopped, the earth will withhold all productions -- vegetables, trees, plants, fruits, flowers, other agricultural products and minerals. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita, the process of yajna was instituted from the beginning of creation. By the regular performance of yajna, the equal distribution of wealth and the restriction of sense gratification, the entire world will be made peaceful and prosperous. As already mentioned, in this age of Kali the simple performance of sankirtana-yajna -- the holding of festivals as initiated by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness -- should be introduced in every town and village. Intelligent men should encourage the performance of sankirtana-yajna by their personal behavior. This means that they should follow the process of austerity by restricting themselves from illicit sex life, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication. If the intelligent men, or the brahmanas of society, would follow the rules and regulations, certainly the entire face of this present world, which is in such chaotic condition, would change, and people would be happy and prosperous.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness