Once, there was a king who had performed righteousness to its utmost, fulfilling his duties with great dedication. Yet, after this, he turned toward desire among the worlds, forsaking the path of virtue. Disregarding the Vedas and sacred scriptures, he became devoted to unrighteous conduct. As a result, during the great sacrifices, the gods themselves refrained from drinking soma, and a cruel vow was declared when destruction seemed imminent. The king demanded, “Sacrifices must be performed for me, offerings must be made to me!” Alarmed by these words, all the great sages, led by Marīci, gathered and spoke: “Do not act unrighteously; this is not the eternal dharma. You promised before, ‘I will protect the people.’” But Vena, whose mind had turned wicked, laughed at their counsel. Though knowledgeable, he spoke knowingly, “By my power, austerity, and truth, who on earth is equal to me? I am the origin of all worlds, and especially of their laws of righteousness. Whether I create or destroy, there is no need for deliberation here.” Seeing this arrogance, the sages became angry to restrain Vena. In their wrath, they churned his left hand, and from it emerged a man, exceedingly short and dark in color. Seeing him distressed and bewildered, they commanded, “Sit down.” From Vena’s impurity, this man produced fishermen, and the sages declared that those born of Vena’s impurity would be inclined toward unrighteousness. Still furious, like churning fire-sticks, the sages continued their efforts. From this fierce anger, a noble being was born from Vena’s palm, and so he was called Prithu. Prithu took up the primordial bow named Ajagava, whose sound echoed greatly. At his birth, all beings rejoiced, for a royal sage had arisen, endowed with a noble son. Rivers and oceans brought Prithu all kinds of jewels, and the blessed Pitamaha, together with Angiras and the gods, assembled and anointed this descendant of Vena as king. Thus, the great king was consecrated by the sons of Angiras among the gods. Prithu won over the subjects who had been estranged from their father, restoring harmony. As Prithu approached the ocean, the waters restrained him. Under his rule, the earth yielded crops without plowing, and food was produced by mere thought. At that very time, as Prithu performed the sacrifice, a Māgadha was born anew. When all had gathered, Māgadha arose from them and was thus named. Prithu offered oblations to Indra by divine rite, and then the charioteer was born. That which was mixed with the disciple’s offering overcame the teacher’s oblation. And that which arose from the warrior, in a Brahmin woman, was of inferior birth. The middle duty of the charioteer was established: livelihood from the field. For Prithu’s sake, those two—the Māgadha and the charioteer—were summoned by the great sages. They declared, “This action is fitting, and this king is the proper recipient. We shall please the gods and sages by our own actions.” Thus, with Prithu’s rise and the sages’ guidance, righteousness was restored among the people and the world rejoiced.