In the earliest times, it is said, people lived on fruits and roots alone. All that would come to nourish the world began to change from the reign of King Vainya onward. With great difficulty, even he saw the plants diminish, and so the Lord, seeking to provide for all, appointed the Cākṣuṣa Manu as a calf. Then Prithu, the illustrious king, milked the earth herself, drawing forth crops from her surface. By his act, with Cākṣuṣa Manu as the calf and the earth as the vessel, Prithu obtained food for the people, who from then on lived sustained by these crops. But the story of the earth’s bounty does not end there. Once again, the sages praised the earth, and she was milked anew. This time, Soma became the calf, and Brihaspati, the wise priest of the gods, served as the milker. The vessel used was the sacred Vedic metres, all beginning with the Gayatri, and from this milking came forth the essence of austerity and the eternal Brahman. The gods themselves, led by Purandara—who is Indra—praised the earth and, taking a vessel of gold, milked from her the ambrosia, the nectar of immortality. It is by this divine elixir that the gods, with Indra at their head, are sustained. The Nagas, the serpent-beings, also approached the earth with praise. For them, Vasuki became the milker, and the powerful sons of Kadru were the calves. From the earth, they drew forth poison as milk, which became the sustenance, the very life and strength, of all serpents and Nagas. Again, the earth was milked, this time in a vessel of shell-lac, by the Yakshas and other virtuous beings. Vaishravana, the lord of wealth, was made the calf, and Jatunahbha, the mighty Yaksha and father of the jewel-lord, was the milker. From this milking came hidden treasures, and by these, the Yakshas and their kin prospered. The Rakshasas and Pisachas, too, milked the earth. Their milker was Kubera, endowed with Brahma’s power. Among them, the mighty Rakshasa Sumālī used a skull as the vessel and drew forth blood as milk, which the Rakshasas consumed for their sustenance. The Gandharvas and Apsarases, celestial musicians and dancers, also praised the earth and milked her using a lotus as the vessel. Citraratha was their calf, and Viśvāvasu, radiant and great-souled, was the milker. From the earth, they drew pure fragrances, which became their delight. Even the mountains themselves praised the earth and milked her for medicinal herbs and various gems. Himavat was made the calf, and the great mountain Meru was the milker, with another mountain as the vessel. Thus, the mountains were established in their glory. The trees and plants, too, milked the earth, using a palāśa leaf as their vessel. The flowering mountain was their wish-fulfilling cow, the illustrious plakṣa tree their calf, and the milk they drew was the shoots that sprout and grow. In this way, the earth, giver of all desires, provided for the needs of all beings, past and future. Thus, the earth—nourisher, creator, and supporter—was milked by Prithu for the benefit of the worlds. She is the foundation and womb of all that moves and does not move. This earth, bounded by the vast ocean, became renowned as Medinī. Because she holds and bears all wealth, she is called Vasudhā. When she attained the status of a daughter, she was known as Pṛthivī. Widespread, divided, and splendid, adorned with fields and cities, and filled with the four castes, the earth was protected by that wise king, Prithu Vainya. King Vainya, of such power, was the foremost among rulers, honored and worshipped by all living beings. The fortunate and learned brāhmaṇas, accomplished in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas, salute Prithu alone, for he is of Brahma’s lineage and eternal. The kings who seek great fame revere Prithu Vainya, the first and mighty king. Even warriors on the battlefield, seeking victory, salute Prithu, the first doer among men, for those who praise him before battle cross fierce conflict safely and attain fame. Among the Vaiśyas, too, Prithu is revered, for he upheld their livelihood and was renowned for his generosity. All these—specific calves, milkers, the milk itself, and the vessels—have been described in due order. In the very beginning, the great-souled Brahma himself milked the earth, making Vāyu the calf and the seeds upon her surface the milk. In the earlier Svāyambhuva Manvantara, the earth was milked again, with Svāyambhuva Manu as the calf and Grīṣma as the milker. In the Svārociṣa Manvantara, Manu Svārociṣa made himself the calf and milked crops from the earth. In the Uttama Manvantara, Devabhuja made Uttama Manu the calf and, with Anuttama as the milker, drew forth all crops. During the Tāmasa Manvantara, Balabandhu made Tāmasa the calf and milked the earth. When the Cāriṣṇava Deva Manvantara arrived, the ancient one milked the earth, making Cāriṣṇava the calf. Again, in the Cākṣuṣa Manvantara, the ancient one milked the earth with Cākṣuṣa as the calf. After the Cākṣuṣa Manvantara ended and Vaivasvata arrived, Vainya—Prithu—milked the earth, as has been described. Thus, through all the cycles of time, the earth has been milked by gods and others, by humans and many beings. In every past and future Manvantara, the gods are present, and so the tradition continues. Now, listen to the lineage and progeny of the great King Prithu.