The tale unfolds with King Vainya, resolute and unwavering, confronting the Earth herself. He declares, “Since you turn away from my command, today I shall strike you down with an arrow. By doing so, I will make myself renowned and sustain the people.” Yet, he does not act in anger alone; he entreats the Earth, “O best upholder of righteousness, accept my words: always revive the people. You are indeed capable—there is no doubt.” He then proposes a profound transformation: “Become my daughter. In this way, you may serve a great purpose. I restrain you now for the sake of righteousness, O terrifying one.” Thus addressed, the virtuous Earth responds with humility, “So it is, O King; I will do this without doubt.” She requests, “Let a calf be given to me, O affectionate one, so that I may yield. Make me uniform everywhere, O best of the righteous. Just as milk flows everywhere, so may I be everywhere.” Hearing her plea, Vainya acts: he clears away all the layers of stone with the tip of his bow, and by this deed, the mountains are removed. In ages past, during earlier Manvantaras, the Earth was naturally uneven. Her even and uneven places arose from her own nature. In that former creation, cities and villages had not yet been divided across the land. There were no crops, no cattle-keeping, no agriculture, nor trade routes; before the Cākṣuṣa Manvantara, this was the state of the world. Only in the Vaivasvata Manvantara did all these arise. Wherever the earth was even, people settled and dwelt. Their food was fruits and roots, as tradition tells. From the time of Vainya onward, all these changes came into being. Even so, Vainya struggled and lost the plants with great difficulty. Then, the Lord appointed a calf—the Cākṣuṣa Manu—and Prithu milked the Earth for crops from her own surface. By him, Vainya, the Earth was milked for crops: having made Cākṣuṣa Manu the calf and a vessel for the Earth, the people lived by this food. Again, praised by the sages, the Earth was milked. Soma was their calf, and Brihaspati was the milker. The vessel used was the Vedic metres, all beginning with Gayatri; their milk was austerity and eternal Brahman. Once more, praised by the hosts of gods led by Purandara, the gods took a golden vessel and milked out ambrosia; by this, the gods led by Indra live. The Nagas, too, praised the Earth and milked her for poison as milk. Vasuki was the milker, and the powerful sons of Kadru were the calves. For the Nagas and all serpents, this sustenance—fierce and mighty—became their food, conduct, and strength. In a vessel of shell-lac, the Earth was milked for hidden treasures, with Vaishravana as the calf, along with the Yakshas and virtuous beings. Jatunahbha, father of the jewel-lord and a mighty Yaksha, was the milker; by these treasures, the Yakshas lived. The Earth was milked again by the rākṣasas and piśācas; Kubera, endowed with Brahma, was their milker. The powerful rākṣasa Sumālī milked blood as the milk, using a skull as the vessel. The rākṣasas made it vanish, and with that milk, they sustained themselves in every way. The gandharvas and hosts of apsarases, using a lotus as their vessel, made Citraratha the calf and extracted pure fragrances from the Earth. Among them, Viśvāvasu, the pure son of the sage, was the milker—a gandharva king, radiant like the sun. The mountains, being praised, milked the Earth for medicinal herbs and various gems. Himavat was their calf, Meru the milker, and the vessel was also a mountain; thus, the mountain was established. Trees and plants, too, milked the Earth, taking a palāśa leaf as the vessel. The milk was the cut and sprouting shoots. The flowering mountain served as the wish-fulfilling cow, the illustrious plakṣa tree as the calf, and the Earth, giver of all desires, was the milker for all beings, past and future. Thus, the Earth became the nourisher, creator, and supporter: milked for the benefit of the worlds by Prithu. She is the foundation and womb of all that moves and does not move. Sūta then explains: This Earth, bounded by the ocean, was renowned as Medinī; because she bears wealth, she is called Vasudhā. Having attained the status of daughter, she is called Pṛthivī. The Earth, widespread, divided, and splendid, adorned with fields and cities, filled with the four castes, was protected by that wise king. Vainya, of such power, was foremost among rulers; he was honored and worshipped by all living beings. By the highly fortunate brāhmaṇas, accomplished in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas, Prithu alone is to be saluted, being of Brahma's lineage and eternal. Among kings seeking great fame, Prithu Vainya, mighty in splendor, is not to be disregarded. Even warriors in battle, seeking victory, must salute Prithu, the first doer among men. Whoever, as a warrior, enters battle after praising King Prithu, crosses the fierce conflict safely and attains fame. Among the Vaiśyas, the royal sage Prithu, who upheld their occupation, is to be revered, for he was the giver of livelihood and possessed great fame. Thus, the specific calves, the milkers, the milk itself, and the vessels—all these have been described in due order. Such is the story of the Earth, her transformation, and the noble deeds of Prithu, the first king, who ensured the sustenance and prosperity of all beings.