किमर्थं च कृता संज्ञा भूमेस्सा पारिभाषिकी। गौरितीयं च संज्ञा वा भुवः कस्माद्ब्रवीहि मे
And for what reason was this technical name 'Bhūmi' given to the earth? And why is she also called 'Gaurī'? Tell me the reason for these names.
पुलस्त्य उवाच। पुरा कृतयुगस्यासीदंगो नाम प्रजापतिः। मृत्योस्तु दुहिता तेन परिणीतातिदुर्मुखी
Pulastya said: In the earliest age, there was a lord of creatures named Aṅga; he married the daughter of Death, who was exceedingly ill-favored.
सुनीथा नाम तस्यास्तु वेनो नाम सुतः पुरा। अधर्मनिरतः कामी बलवान्वसुधाधिपः
She had a son named Vena, who was a powerful ruler of the earth, devoted to unrighteousness and desire.
लोकस्याधर्मकृच्चापि परभार्यापहारकः। अथ तस्य प्रसिद्यर्थं जगदर्थं महर्षिभिः
He committed unrighteous deeds and abducted the wives of others; then, for the sake of his appeasement and for the good of the world, the great sages—
अनुनीतोपि न ददावशुद्धात्माऽभयं ततः। शापेन मारयित्वैनमराजकभयार्दिताः
Even when entreated, that pure-hearted one did not grant safety; then, afflicted by the fear of the king, he killed him with a curse.
ममंथुर्ब्राह्मणास्तस्य बलाद्देहमकल्मषाः। तत्कायान्मथ्यमानात्तु जनिता म्लेच्छजातयः
The sinless Brahmins forcibly churned his body; from the churning of that body, the races of Mlecchas were born.
शरीरे मातुरंशेन कृष्णांजनसमप्रभाः। पितुरंशस्य संगेन धार्मिको धर्मकारकः
From the mother's portion in the body, beings with a complexion like black collyrium arose; by the union with the father's portion, a righteous one, a doer of dharma, was born.
उत्पन्नो दक्षिणाद्धस्तात्सधनुः सशरो गदी। दिव्यतेजोमयः पुत्रस्सरत्नकवचांगदः
From the right hand was born a son, armed with bow and arrow and mace, radiant with divine splendor, adorned with a jewel armor and bracelets.
पृथुरेवाभवन्नाम्ना स च विष्णुरजायत। स विप्रैरभिषिक्तः संस्तपः कृत्वा सुदुष्करं
He became known by the name Prithu, and he was born as Vishnu; consecrated by the Brahmins, he performed a most difficult austerity.
विष्णोर्वरेण सर्वस्य प्रभुत्वमगमत्प्रभुः। निःस्वाध्यायवषट्कारं निर्द्धर्मं वीक्ष्य भूतलं
By the boon of Vishnu, the lord attained sovereignty over all; seeing the earth devoid of recitation and oblation, and bereft of dharma,
वेद्धुमेवोद्यतः कोपाच्छरेणामितविक्रमः। ततो गोरूपमास्थाय भूः पलायितुमुद्यता
He, of immeasurable valor, became angry and prepared to pierce the earth with an arrow; then, the earth, taking the form of a cow, sought to flee.
पृष्ठे त्वन्वगमत्तस्याः पृथुः सेषुशरासनः। ततः स्थित्वैकदेशे तु किं करोमीति चाब्रवीत्
Prithu, with bow and arrows, pursued her from behind; then, standing in one place, she said, 'What should I do?'
पृथुरप्यवदद्वाक्यमीप्सितं देहि सुव्रते। सर्वस्य जगतः शीघ्रं स्थावरस्य चरस्य च
Prithu also spoke: 'O virtuous one, quickly give what is desired for all the world, both the immovable and the moving.'
तथेति चाब्रवीद्भूमिर्दुदोह स नराधिपः। स्वके पाणौ पृथुर्वत्सं कृत्वा स्वायंभुवं मनुं
The earth replied, 'So be it,' and that king milked her, making Svayambhuva Manu the calf in his own hand.
तदन्नमभवद्दुग्धं प्रजा जीवंति येन तु। ततस्तु ऋषिभिर्दुग्धा वत्सः सोमस्तदाभवत्
That milk became food by which the people live; then, the sages milked her, and Soma became the calf.
दोग्धा वाचस्पतिरभूत्पात्रं वेदस्तपो रसः। देवैश्च वसुधा दुग्धा मरुद्दोग्धा तदाभवत्
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.
इन्द्रो वत्सः समभवत्क्षीरमूर्ज्जस्वलं बलं। देवानां कांचनं पात्रं पितृणां राजतं तथा
Indra became the calf, and the milk was strength, full of vigor; the vessel for the gods was gold, and for the ancestors, silver likewise.
अंतकश्चाभवद्दोग्धा यमो वत्सः स्वधा रसः। बिलं च पात्रं नागानां तक्षको वत्सकोभवत्
Antaka became the milker, Yama the calf, and the essence was svadha; for the Nagas, the vessel was a hole, and Takshaka was the calf.
विषं क्षीरं ततो दोग्धा धृतराष्ट्रोभवत्पुनः। असुरैरपि दुग्धेयं आयसे शत्रुपीडनम्
Then, poison became the milk, and Dhritarashtra became the milker; the Asuras too milked her, with an iron vessel, producing the torment of enemies.
पात्रे मायामभूद्वत्सःप्राल्हादिस्तुविरोचनः। दोग्धा त्रिमूर्द्धा तत्रासीन्माया येन प्रवर्तिता
For the Asuras, Maya was the vessel, Prahlada and Virocana were the calves; Trimurti was the milker there, and by him, magic was produced.
यक्षैश्च वसुधा दुग्धा पुरांतर्द्धानमीप्सुभिः। कृत्वा विश्वावसुं वत्सं मणिमंतं महीपते
The Yakshas also milked the earth, desiring hidden treasures; making Vishvavasu the calf, and a jewel as the vessel, O king.
प्रेतरक्षोगणैर्दुग्धा वसा रुधिरमुल्बणं। रौप्यनाभोभवद्दोग्धा सुमाली वत्स एव च
The hosts of Pretas and Rakshasas milked fat and fierce blood; Sumali was the milker with a silver vessel, and the calf as well.
गंधर्वैश्च पुनर्दुग्धा वसुधा साप्सरोगणैः। वत्सं चित्ररथं कृत्वा गंधान्पद्मदले तथा
The earth was again milked by the Gandharvas together with the hosts of Apsaras, making Citraratha the calf, and collecting fragrances upon lotus leaves.
दोग्धावसुरुचिर्नामाथर्ववेदस्य पारगः। गिरिभिर्वसुधा दुग्धा रत्नानि विविधानि च
Dogdha, renowned as Surucir and master of the Atharva Veda, milked the earth with the mountains as the calf, obtaining various gems.
औषधानि च दिव्यानि दोग्धा मेरुर्महीधरः। वत्सोभूद्धिमवांस्तत्र पात्रं शैलमयं पुनः
Meru, the great mountain, milked the earth for divine herbs, with Himavat as the calf and a vessel made of stone.
वृक्षैश्च वसुधा दुग्धा क्षीरं छिन्नप्ररोहणं। पालाशपात्रे दोग्धा तु सालः पुष्पवनाकुलः
The earth was milked by the trees for sap, with a vessel of palāśa leaves, and the sāla tree, abundant with flowers, served as the milker.
प्लक्षोभवत्ततो वत्सः सर्ववृक्षवनाधिपः। एवमन्यैश्च वसुधा तथा दुग्धा यथेच्छतः
Plakṣa became the calf thereafter, lord of all forests and trees; thus, the earth was milked by others as they wished.
आयुर्द्धनानि सौख्यं च पृथौ राज्यं प्रशासति। न दारिद्र्यं तथा रोगी नाधनोनचपापकृत्
When Pṛthu rules the kingdom, there is long life, wealth, and happiness; there is no poverty, no disease, no one is destitute or sinful.
नोपसर्गा न चाघातः पृथौ राज्यं प्रशासति। नित्यंप्रमुदितालोका दुःखशोकविवर्जिताः
When Pṛthu governs the realm, there are no calamities or injuries; people are always joyful, free from sorrow and suffering.
धनुः कोट्या च शैलेंद्रानुत्सार्य स महाबलः। भूमंडलं समं चक्रे लोकानां हितकाम्यया
With his mighty bow, he drove away the mountain lords and made the earth's surface level, desiring the welfare of all worlds.