Diti, in her haste and without first purifying her feet, lay down to sleep. As she slumbered, Indra—Vajrapāṇi—entered her womb. Within, he found the embryo and, wielding his thunderbolt, cut it into seven pieces. As the embryo was being divided, it cried out in pain. Indra, hearing its cries, spoke soothingly, “Do not cry.” Yet, angered, he acted again and, with his thunderbolt, divided each of the seven pieces into seven more. Thus, these fragments became the Maruts, the storm gods, known for their strength. Just as Maghavan—Indra—had spoken, so the Maruts came to be, numbering fifty-one, allied with the wielder of the thunderbolt. These powerful beings gathered and appointed the foremost hosts among the gods, those of immeasurable might. Hari, the Lord, gradually bestowed lordship upon the progenitors within each group, granting them ancient, broad realms. This Hari, the heroic Krishna, victorious and the Lord of creatures, is also known as Parjanya, the sun, Ananta—he is, indeed, all this world. Those who truly know this creation, O best of twice-born, have no fear of returning here, nor of what comes after. Their knowledge brings liberation. When Pṛthu, son of Vena, was anointed as emperor, the Grandfather—Brahmā—began to assign the realms, step by step. He established Soma as ruler over the Brahmins, plants, stars, planets, sacrifices, and austerities. Varuṇa was made lord of the waters; Vaiśravaṇa, chief of kings; Viṣṇu, lord of the Ādityas; and Pāvaka, guardian of the Vasus. Dakṣa was made lord of the progenitors, Vāsava (Indra) of the Maruts, and Prahrāda, of immeasurable strength, over the Daityas and Dānavas. Vaivasvata Yama was installed as ruler of the ancestors, and likewise as king of the Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and earthly kings. Girīśa, the trident-wielder—Śiva—became lord of all beings and spirits; Himavat was made lord of the mountains, and the ocean of the rivers. Citraratha was appointed chief of the Gandharvas, Vāsuki of the Nāgas, and Takṣaka of the serpents. Airāvata became king of the elephants, Uccaiḥśravas of the horses, and Garuḍa of the birds. The tiger was made lord of the beasts, the bull master of cattle, and Plakṣa king of the trees. Thus, dividing the realms step by step, the Grandfather established the guardians of the directions. In the east, he anointed Sudhanvan, son of Vairāja Prajāpati, as king and guardian. In the south, Śaṅkhapada, son of Kardama Prajāpati, became king. In the west, Ketumanta, the great-souled son of Rajasa, was made king. In the north, Hiraṇyaroman, son of Parjanya Prajāpati, was appointed indomitable king. By these kings, the entire earth—with its seven continents and cities—is maintained by righteousness, according to region, even today. Pṛthu, consecrated with the rājasūya by these lords of men, ruled as king according to the procedures of the Vedas. After the passing of the Cākṣuṣa Manvantara, the mighty Vaivasvata Manu was appointed to rule the earth. The lineage of Vaivasvata Manu is the great foundation established in the Purāṇa, and it shall be described for your benefit, if you wish to hear. O Lomaharṣaṇa, recount in detail the birth of Pṛthu and how the earth was milked by that great soul. Tell also how the earth was milked by men, by gods and great sages, by demons and serpents, by yakṣas, and by trees; how the earth was milked by mountains, by piśācas, by gandharvas, by the best of twice-born, by rākṣasas, and by great beings. You should describe the particular vessels used, the various kinds of calf’s milk, and the milkers, in order. And speak of the reason why the hand of Vena was churned in the past by the angry great sages. Listen as I narrate in detail the account of Pṛthu, son of Vena. Be attentive and diligent, O best of twice-born, for the sake of merit. This teaching is not for the impure, the small-minded, the undisciplined, the ungrateful, or the hostile. It is heavenly, brings fame, long life, prosperity, and is approved by the Vedas—a secret taught by the sages. Listen to it as it truly is. Whoever recites this account of Pṛthu, son of Vena, after bowing to the brāhmaṇas, does not grieve for what is done or undone. In former times, there was a protector of righteousness, a lord equal to Atri, born in the lineage of Atri, named Aṅga, a Prajāpati. His son was Vena, not greatly versed in righteousness, born to him by Sunīthā, the daughter of Death. Because of his maternal grandfather’s fault, Vena, son of the daughter of Time, turned away from his own duty and succumbed to desire and greed. That king broke the righteous boundary, transgressed the laws of the Veda, and became devoted to unrighteousness.