Dhriti was the strongest among them; Yavasa shone like gold, and Vashtir too shared that radiance. Carishnu was renowned and praiseworthy, Sumati embodied wealth, and Shukra was powerful indeed. These qualities adorned the sons of Sāvarṇi Manu, whose ten descendants, beginning with Rauchya, are prophesied as future Manus. In the same way, other Manus are also named and remembered. The Prajapati Ruchi would have a son named Rauchya, destined to be a Manu; likewise, Bhuti’s son, Bhautya, would also take up the mantle of Manu. Then would come Merusāvarṇi, son of Brahma, who, along with Rta, Rtadhama, and Vishvaksena, would be remembered as Manus as well. Thus, O king, the Manus, both past and yet to come, are enumerated, and with them nearly six thousand yugas have passed in the order of creation. In the interval of each Manu’s reign, all beings—moving and unmoving—come into existence; and at the end of the kalpa, when the great cycle is complete, all are released along with Brahma. At the close of these thousands of yugas, Brahma and all others perish again and again; yet, O twice-born, they attain and will attain union with Vishnu. It is heard, O king, that the earth has been enjoyed by many rulers in ages past. But when the earth is left without a king, by whose union does she become joined again? For what reason was she given her name? Why is she called ‘Gau’—the Cow? O Suta, tell us why she is so renowned. In the lineage of Svayambhuva, there was a Prajapati named Anga, who took Sudurmukha, the daughter of Mrityu, as his wife. She bore him a son named Vena, who, in ancient times, was devoted to unrighteousness, yet wielded great power as lord of the earth. Vena, even in this world, was known as a doer of evil and a taker of others’ wives. In order to restore righteousness in the world, the great sages intervened. Despite their entreaties, Vena refused to heed their words. Therefore, by their curse, he was slain, and the earth, bereft of a king, suffered. The sinless Brahmins, seeking a solution, forcibly churned Vena’s body. From this churning, the Mleccha races—those of foreign ways—emerged. From the mother’s portion of the body, those with a luster like black collyrium were born. From the father’s portion, a righteous one, steadfast in dharma, appeared. He emerged from the right hand, bearing a bow and arrow, holding a mace, his body radiant with divine splendor, adorned with armor and jewel-studded bracelets. This was Pṛthu, born through great effort. Though consecrated by the Brahmins, Pṛthu undertook severe austerities. By the boon of Vishnu, he regained lordship over all. Yet, upon surveying the earth, he saw her devoid of the sound of Vedic recitation and sacrifice, bereft of righteousness. Pṛthu, of boundless valor, was seized by anger and prepared to burn the earth with his arrow. Sensing this, the earth, taking the form of a cow, sought to flee. Pṛthu, with his blazing bow, pursued her relentlessly. At last, standing firm, he called out, “What should I do?” He addressed her, “O virtuous one, grant what is desired—quickly—for the sake of all the world, both immovable and moving.” The earth replied in kind, and Pṛthu milked her, making Svāyambhuva Manu the calf, and drawing the milk into his own hand. From this, pure food emerged, by which all creatures live. Then the sages milked her, with Soma as the calf. Bṛhaspati became the milker, the vessel was the Veda, and the essence was austerity. The gods too milked the earth, with Mitra as the milker; Indra was the calf, and the milk was strength-giving nectar for the gods, poured into a golden vessel. For the ancestors, the vessel was silver. Antaka became the milker, Yama the calf, and the essence was svadhā, the offering for ancestors. The nāgas used a gourd as their vessel, Takṣaka as the calf, and poison as their milk. Dhṛtarāṣṭra became the milker once more. The asuras milked her with an iron vessel, causing distress to Indra; their vessel was illusion, Virocana, son of Prahlāda, was the calf, and Dvimūrdhā was the milker, producing illusion. The yakṣas, desiring disappearance, milked the earth with Vaiśravaṇa as the calf, using a raw vessel. The pretas and rākṣasas milked her, yielding fierce blood; Sumālī was the milker, the vessel was silver, and the calf was the same. The gandharvas and apsarases milked the earth, making Citraratha the calf, and drew forth fragrance, collected on lotus leaves. Vararuci, master of the Nāṭyaveda, served as the milker for the mountains, yielding various gems. Meru, the great mountain, milked divine herbs, with Himavat as the calf and a stone vessel. The trees milked the earth for sap for their cut shoots; their vessel was made of palāśa wood, and Śāla, full of flowering creepers, was the milker. Plakṣa became the calf, and the lord of all trees was the milker. In this way, the earth was milked by others as they desired. While Pṛthu ruled the kingdom, there was long life, wealth, and happiness; at that time, none were poor, sick, or wicked. There was no fear of calamity; the people were always joyful, free from suffering and sorrow. With the tip of his bow, that mighty king drove away the great mountains and made the earth’s surface level, desiring the welfare of all. There were no cities, villages, or fortresses, nor men bearing arms; none suffered from decay, nor was there concern for the science of wealth. When Pṛthu ruled, the people’s only inclination was righteousness, and the vessels and milk I have described to you flowed forth, sustaining the world.