Hear now the tale of the Manus and the great cycles of creation, as recounted in the Purāṇas. After the sons of Tāmasa—ten in number—had increased the lineage, there came the interval of the fifth Manu, known as Raivata. In his time, seven sages were renowned: Devabāhu, Subāhu, Parjanya, the sage Samayo, Hiraṇyaroma, and Saptāśva. The gods of this era were called the Bhūtarajas, and among the Prakṛtis, these were remembered: Avaśa, Tatvadarśin, Vītimān, Havyapa, and Kapi. Revata, the Manu, had ten sons—Mukta, Nirutsuka, Satva, Nirmoha, Prakāśaka, and others—each endowed with righteousness, heroism, and strength. Following this, in the interval of Cākṣuṣa Manu, the Seven Sages were Bhṛgu, Sudhāmā, Viraja, Sahiṣṇu, Nārada, Vivasvān, and Kṛti. The gods of this age were known as the Lekhas, not widely famed, with Vibhava and Pṛthakcānu among the dwellers of heaven. In this interval, a fifth group of gods arose, and Cākṣuṣa Manu had ten sons, including Ruru and others. Thus, the lineages of Svāyambhuva and the interval of Cākṣuṣa were recounted. Now, listen to the seventh Manu, Vaivasvata, the present age. The Seven Great Sages now are Atri, Vasiṣṭha, Kaśyapa, Gautama, Bhāradvāja the yogi, mighty Viśvāmitra, and Jamadagni. These sages, having established the order of righteousness, attain the supreme state. Looking ahead, in the future Sāvarṇi Manvantara, the sages will be Aśvatthāman, Śaradvān, Kauśika, Gālava, Śatānanda, Kāśyapa, and Rāma. The sons of the future Manu, Arka Sāvarṇi, will be Dhṛti, Varīyān, Yavasu, Suvarṇa, Dhṛti again, Variṣṇuvīrya, Sumati, Vasu, and mighty Śukra. Others, such as Raucyā and the rest, will also be named as Manus. Ruci, the lord of creatures, will have a son named Raucyā, and Manu, son of Bhūti, will be known as Bhautyā. Merusāvarṇi, son of Brahmā, will be remembered as Manu, along with Ṛbhu, Ṛtudhāmā, and Viṣvaksena. Thus, both past and future Manus have been described; by their succession, a thousand ages are encompassed. In each interval, all beings—moving and unmoving—are produced anew. Yet, at the end of a kalpa, when dissolution comes, all are released along with Brahmā. When these thousands of ages end, Brahmā and the others perish again and again, and finally attain union with Viṣṇu. At this point, Bhīṣma inquired, “It is heard that the earth was enjoyed by many kings in ancient times. O lord, since those kings are gone, to whom does the earth now belong? And for what reason was she given the technical name 'Bhūmi'? Why is she also called 'Gaurī'? Tell me the reasons for these names.” Pulastya replied: In the earliest age, there was a lord of creatures named Aṅga. He married the daughter of Death, who was exceedingly ill-favored. Their son was Vena, a powerful ruler of the earth, but devoted to unrighteousness and desire. Vena committed many unrighteous deeds, even abducting the wives of others. For the sake of the world’s good, the great sages sought to appease him, but he would not grant safety. Afflicted by his tyranny, the sinless Brahmins killed him with a curse. The Brahmins then churned Vena’s body, and from this churning, the races of Mlecchas were born. From the mother’s portion of the body, beings with a complexion like black collyrium arose; but from the father’s portion, a righteous one, a doer of dharma, was born. From Vena’s right hand emerged a son, armed with bow, arrow, and mace, radiant with divine splendor, adorned with jeweled armor and bracelets. He became known as Prithu, an incarnation of Viṣṇu. Consecrated by the Brahmins, Prithu performed severe austerities. By the boon of Viṣṇu, he attained sovereignty over all. Seeing the earth devoid of recitation, sacrifice, and dharma, Prithu, of immeasurable valor, became angry and prepared to pierce the earth with an arrow. The earth, taking the form of a cow, sought to flee, but Prithu pursued her. When she could flee no further, she stopped and asked, “What should I do?” Prithu spoke, “O virtuous one, quickly give what is desired for all the world, both the immovable and the moving.” The earth replied, “So be it,” and Prithu milked her, making Svāyambhuva Manu the calf in his own hand. The milk thus obtained became food by which people live. Then, the sages milked her, with Soma as the calf. Brihaspati became the milker, the vessel was the Veda, and the essence was austerity. The gods, too, milked the earth, with Marut as the milker, Indra as the calf, and the milk was strength, full of vigor. Their vessel was gold; for the ancestors, the vessel was silver. Antaka became the milker for the ancestors, Yama the calf, and the essence was svadhā. For the Nāgas, the vessel was a hole, and Takṣaka was the calf; poison became the milk, and Dhṛtarāṣṭra was the milker. The Asuras milked her with an iron vessel, producing the torment of enemies. For the Asuras, Maya was the vessel, Prahlāda and Virocana were the calves, and Trimurti was the milker, producing magic. Thus, the earth yielded her essence to all beings, each according to their nature, by the grace and sovereignty of King Prithu.