# SB 4.17.12 > मैत्रेय उवाच > पृथुः प्रजानां करुणं निशम्य परिदेवितम् । > दीर्घं दध्यौ कुरुश्रेष्ठ निमित्तं सोऽन्वपद्यत ॥१२॥ ## Text > maitreya uvāca > pṛthuḥ prajānāṁ karuṇaṁ > niśamya paridevitam > dīrghaṁ dadhyau kuruśreṣṭha > nimittaṁ so 'nvapadyata ## Synonyms *maitreyaḥ uvāca*—the great saint Maitreya said; *pṛthuḥ*—King Pṛthu; *prajānām*—of the citizens; *karuṇam*—pitiable condition; *niśamya*—hearing; *paridevitam*—lamentation; *dīrgham*—for a long time; *dadhyau*—contemplated; *kuru-śreṣṭha*—O Vidura; *nimittam*—the cause; *saḥ*—he; *anvapadyata*—found out. ## Translation **After hearing this lamentation and seeing the pitiable condition of the citizens, King Pṛthu contemplated this matter for a long time to see if he could find out the underlying causes.**