Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 04, Chapter 17, Text 19

SB 4.17.19

sa tvam jighamsase kasmad
dinam akrta-kilbisam
ahanisyat katham yosam
dharma-jña iti yo matah
 
Translation by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada: 
 
The cow-shaped earth continued to appeal to the King: I am very poor and have not committed any sinful activities. I do not know why you want to kill me. Since you are supposed to be the knower of all religious principles, why are you so envious of me, and why are you so anxious to kill a woman?
 
Purport by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada: 
 
The earth appealed to the King in two ways. A king who knows religious principles cannot kill anyone who has not committed sinful activities. Apart from this, a woman is not to be killed, even if she does commit some sinful activities. Since the earth was innocent and was also a woman, the King should not kill her.

 

Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 04, Chapter 17, Text 18
Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 04, Chapter 17, Text 20