दक्षिणस्यां महात्मानं कर्दमस्य प्रजापतेः । पुत्रं शंखपदं नाम राजानं सोभ्यषिंचत
In the southern direction, he anointed Śaṅkhapāda, the great-souled son of Prajāpati Kardama, as king.
पश्चिमायां तथा ब्रह्मा वरुणस्य प्रजापतेः । पुत्रं च पुष्करं नाम सोऽभ्यषिंचत्प्रजापतिः
In the western direction, Prajāpati Brahmā anointed Puṣkara, son of Prajāpati Varuṇa, as king.
उत्तरस्यां दिशि ब्रह्म नलकूबरमेव च । एवं चैवाभ्यषिंचच्च दिक्पालान्समहौजसः
In the northern direction, Brahmā likewise anointed Nalakūbara; thus he installed the guardians of the directions, all possessing great strength.
यैरियं पृथिवी सर्वा सप्तद्वीपा सपत्तना । यथाप्रदेशमद्यापि धर्मेण प्रतिपाल्यते
By whom this entire earth, with its seven continents and cities, is still protected according to their regions, in righteousness.
पृथुश्चैवं महाभागः सोभिषिक्तो नराधिपः । राजसूयादिभिः सर्वैरभिषिक्तो महामखैः
Thus, the greatly fortunate Pṛthu was anointed as lord of men, consecrated by all the great sacrifices such as the Rājasūya.
विधिना वेददृष्टेन राजराज्ये महीपतिः । चाक्षुषे नाम्नि संपुण्ये अतीते च महौजसि
The mighty king was installed in royal sovereignty according to the ordinance seen in the Veda, in the celebrated Cākṣuṣa Manvantara that has passed.
मन्वंतरे महाभाग देवपुण्यहितैषिणि । ततो वैवस्वतायैव मनवे राज्यमादिशत्
In that Manvantara, O greatly fortunate one, which sought the welfare of gods and the virtuous, he then entrusted the kingdom to Vaivasvata Manu.
विस्तरं चापि व्याख्यास्ये पृथोश्चैव महात्मनः । यदि मामेव विप्रेन्द्र शुश्रूषसि अतंद्रितः
I shall now explain in detail the birth of that great-souled Pṛthu, if you, O best of Brāhmaṇas, wish to listen attentively to me.
एतदेवमधिष्ठानं महत्पुण्यं प्रकीर्तितम् । सर्वेष्वेव पुराणेषु एतद्धि निश्चितं सदा
This very foundation, renowned as supremely holy, is declared in all the Purāṇas; this indeed is always certain.
पुण्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं स्वर्गवासकरं शुभम् । धन्यं पवित्रमायुष्यं पुत्रदं वृद्धिदायकम्
It is meritorious, brings fame and long life, leads to residence in heaven, is auspicious, blessed, pure, life-giving, grants sons, and bestows prosperity.
यः शृणोति नरो भक्त्या भावध्यानसमन्वितः । अश्वमेधफलं तस्य जायते नात्र संशयः
Whoever hears this with devotion, his mind absorbed in contemplation, attains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice—of this there is no doubt.
अष्टाविंशतितमोऽध्यायः ऋषय ऊचुः- विस्तरेण समाख्याहि जन्म तस्य महात्मनः । पृथोश्चैव महाभाग श्रोतुकामा वयं पुनः
Chapter Twenty-Eight. The sages said: Tell us in detail the birth of that great-souled Pṛthu, O highly fortunate one; we wish to hear it again.
राज्ञा तेन यथा दुग्धा इयं धात्री महात्मना । पुनर्देवैश्च पितृभिर्मुनिभस्तत्त्ववेदिभिः
How this earth was milked by that great king, and again by the gods, ancestors, and sages who know the truth.
यथा दैत्यैश्च नागैश्च यथा यक्षैर्यथा द्रुमैः । शैलैश्चैव पिशाचैश्च गंधर्वैः पुण्यकर्मभिः
How it was milked by the Daityas and Nāgas, by the Yakṣas, by the trees, by the mountains, by the Piśācas, and by the Gandharvas of virtuous deeds.
ब्राह्मणैश्च तथा सिद्धै राक्षसैर्भीमविक्रमैः । पूर्वमेव यथा दुग्धा अन्यैश्च सुमहात्मभिः
By Brahmins, accomplished beings, and mighty Rakshasas, it was previously churned, as well as by others of great soul.
तेषामेव हि सर्वेषां विशेषं पात्रधारणम् । क्षीरस्यापि विधिं ब्रूहि विशेषं च महामते
Among all of them, the distinction lies in the holding of the vessel; tell us, O wise one, the procedure for the milk and its particularities.
वेनस्यापि नृपस्यैव पाणिरेव महात्मनः । ऋषिभिर्मथितः पूर्वं स कस्मादिह कारणात्
The hand of the noble king Vena was churned by the sages in former times; for what reason did this happen here?
क्रुद्धश्चैव महापुण्यैः सूतपुत्र वदस्व नः । विचित्रेयं कथा पुण्या सर्वपापप्रणाशिनी
Tell us, O son of the Suta, about this wondrous and virtuous tale, which destroys all sins, even when angered by those of great merit.
श्रोतुकामा महाभाग तृप्तिर्नैव प्रजायते । सूत उवाच- वैन्यस्य हि पृथोश्चैव तस्य विस्तरमेव च
O illustrious one, we wish to hear; our satisfaction does not arise. Suta said: I shall narrate in detail the story of Vainya and Prithu.
जन्मवीर्यं तथा क्षेत्रं पौरुषं द्विजसत्तमाः । प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा सर्वं चरित्रं तस्य धीमतः
I will speak of his birth, strength, lineage, and valor, O best of twice-born, and recount all the deeds of that wise one.
शुश्रूषध्वं महाभागा मामेवं द्विजसत्तमाः । अभक्ताय न वक्तव्यमश्रद्धाय शठाय च
Listen attentively, O blessed ones, O best of twice-born; it should not be spoken to the undevoted, the faithless, or the deceitful.
सुमूर्खाय सुमोहाय कुशिष्याय तथैव च । श्रद्धाहीनाय कूटाय सर्वनाशाय मा द्विजाः
Nor to the utterly foolish, the greatly deluded, the bad disciple, the faithless, the false, or those intent on destruction, O Brahmins.
अन्यथा पठते यो हि निरयं च प्रयाति हि । भवंतो भावसंयुक्ताः सत्यधर्मपरायणाः
Whoever recites it otherwise surely goes to hell; but you are endowed with feeling, devoted to truth and righteousness.
भवतामग्रतः सर्वं चरित्रं पापनाशनम् । संप्रवक्ष्याम्यशेषेण शृणुध्वं द्विजसत्तमाः
Before you all, I shall fully narrate the story that destroys sin; listen, O best of twice-born.
स्वर्ग्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं धन्यं वेदैश्च संमितम् । रहस्यमृषिभिः प्रोक्तं प्रवक्ष्यामि द्विजोत्तमाः
It brings heaven, fame, long life, and fortune, and accords with the Vedas; I shall declare, O foremost Brahmins, the secret spoken by the sages.
यश्चैनं कीर्तयेन्नित्यं पृथोर्वैन्यस्य विस्तरम् । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमस्कृत्वा न स शोचेत्कृताकृतम्
Whoever recites daily the account of Prithu, son of Vena, after bowing to the Brahmins, does not grieve for deeds done or undone.
सप्तजन्मार्जितं पापं श्रुतमात्रेण नश्यति । ब्राह्मणो वेदविद्वांश्च क्षत्रियो विजयी भवेत्
Sin accumulated over seven births is destroyed merely by hearing; the Brahmin becomes learned in the Vedas, the Kshatriya becomes victorious.
वैश्यो धनसमृद्धः स्याच्छूद्रः सुखमवाप्नुयात् । एवं फलं समाप्नोति पठनाच्छ्रवणादपि
The Vaishya attains wealth, and the Shudra finds happiness; thus, one obtains these fruits by reciting or even hearing.
पृथोर्जन्मचरित्रं च पवित्रं पापनाशनम् । धर्मगोप्ता महाप्राज्ञो वेदशास्त्रार्थकोविदः
The birth and deeds of Prithu are pure and destroy sin; he is the protector of dharma, greatly wise, and skilled in the meaning of Vedic scriptures.
अत्रिवंशसमुत्पन्नः पूर्वमत्रिसमः प्रभुः । स्रष्टा सर्वस्य धर्मस्य अंगो नाम प्रजापतिः
Born in the lineage of Atri, formerly equal to Atri, the lord; the creator of all dharma, named Anga, was a Prajapati.