Thus was the power of Pṛthu, the valiant son of Vainya, revealed to the world. He was the very first king, born for the delight and well-being of his people. His birth and deeds were so extraordinary that those who recount the story of Vainya’s son, Pṛthu, are protected—no evil deed ever bears fruit for them. Simply hearing this excellent account of Pṛthu’s birth and greatness brings relief from troubling dreams and misfortunes. In those ancient days, the wise declared, “With a great and enduring sacrifice, we shall worship Hari, the Lord of all gods and all sacrifices. May all be well with you, for his portion will be yours.” Pṛthu himself shone with such radiance that he was like fire blazing in form. He entered the sky as the primordial Ajagava, and from there, he took up the bow, ready to fulfill his kingly duties. Having performed all actions befitting a righteous king, Pṛthu, the protector of the earth, ruled the world with justice and care. When faced with difficult choices, he considered the welfare of his subjects above all. Once, when the earth herself pleaded, “If you kill me for the benefit of the people, who will be the support for your subjects, should I be destroyed?” Pṛthu listened with wisdom and compassion. At that time, all the gods, sages, demons, Rākṣasas, mountains, Gandharvas, serpents, Yakṣas, ancestors, and even the trees assembled to witness the greatness of Pṛthu. From Pṛthu’s line were born two mighty sons, both preservers of prosperity—Śikhaṇḍinī and Havirddhāna, who appeared from Antarddhāna. Havirddhāna, in turn, married Dhiṣaṇā, the daughter of Agni, and from their union were born six sons: Prācīnabarhis, Śukra, Gaya, Kṛṣṇa, Vraja, and Ajina. Of these, Prācīnabarhis was especially blessed—a great lord of creatures—by whom the fortunate children of Havirddhāna were raised. Because of him, the sacred kuśa grass, with its tips facing east, became renowned on earth, and Prācīnabarhis himself became famous as a mighty king. Prācīnabarhis married Savarṇā, the wise daughter of the ocean, and established his household on the far shore of the great darkness. From Savarṇā were born ten sons, all known as the Pracetases, accomplished in the science of archery. Practicing the same righteous conduct, these ten brothers performed great austerities for ten thousand years, dwelling in the waters of the ocean. Curious, Maitreya asked, “For what purpose did those great-souled Pracetases perform austerities in the ocean’s waters, O great sage? Please tell me.” Parāśara replied, “The Pracetases were instructed by their father, whose mind was vast and wise. For the sake of progeny, as appointed by the lord of creatures, he addressed them with great respect. Prācīnabarhis said, ‘I have been commanded by Brahmā, the god of gods, that my sons should increase the progeny. I have told you this, and you have agreed. Therefore, my sons, for my satisfaction, diligently promote the growth of progeny; the command of the lord of creatures is to be properly honored by you.’” The sons replied, “So be it,” and then asked their father, “By what action, father, shall we be able to increase progeny? Please explain to us all the means for that.” Their father replied, “By worshiping Viṣṇu, the bestower of boons, one attains all desired results without doubt; no mortal achieves this otherwise. What else should I tell you? Therefore, for the increase of progeny, worship Hari, the lord of all beings. If you desire success, worship Govinda. For those who always seek righteousness, wealth, pleasure, and liberation, the blessed, primeval, supreme person is to be worshiped. By worshiping him, the unchanging one, whom the lord of creatures worshiped at the beginning to create the world, you will attain the increase of progeny.” Thus instructed by their father, the ten Pracetases entered the waters of the ocean and performed austerities with concentrated minds. For ten thousand years, with their minds fixed upon the Lord of the universe—Nārāyaṇa, the supreme refuge of all worlds—they remained absorbed in deep meditation. There, with one-pointed minds, they praised Hari, the god who, when praised, grants the desired wishes of those who offer him hymns. Maitreya then asked, “The Pracetas, standing in the ocean’s waters, composed a hymn to Viṣṇu. O best of sages, please recount that most auspicious hymn to me.” Parāśara replied, “Listen, Maitreya, to how the Pracetas, having become absorbed in him, praised Govinda as they lay in the waters of the ocean, just as before.” The Pracetas prayed: “We bow to him who is the eternal foundation of all words, who is the supreme Lord, the beginning and end of all that exists. To him who is the original, incomparable, infinite, and boundless light, the source of all that is moving and unmoving. To him whose day and night are the first forms of the formless, to that supreme Lord, the embodiment of time, we offer our salutations. To him who, in the form of Soma, is enjoyed daily by the gods and ancestors, who is the seed of all, to that Soma-essence we bow. To him who devours darkness, whose intense nature illuminates the sky with rays, who is the source of heat, cold, and water—to that Sun-form we bow. To him who, possessing solidity, upholds this entire world, who pervades all as the support of sound and the senses—to that Earth-form we bow. To that Lord whose watery form is the source of the world, the seed of all embodied beings, to Hari, the origin of the universe, we bow. To Viṣṇu, the fire-essence, who is the mouth of all the gods, who consumes the offerings to gods and ancestors, to him we offer our salutations. To the blessed one who, established fivefold in the body, constantly performs activity, who is the source of space—to that Air-form we bow. To him who grants space to all beings, who has infinite forms and is pure—to that Ether-form we bow.” Thus, the Pracetases, with steadfast devotion, praised the Lord of all, seeking his blessing for the increase of the world’s progeny.