नारद उवाच पृथु वैन्यं च राजानं मृतं सृज्जय शुश्रुम। यमभ्यषिञ्चन् साम्राज्ये राजसूये महर्षयः॥
Narada said We heard also, O Srinjaya, that Vena's son Prithu, who was installed as the emperor of the world by the mighty sages on the celebration of his Rajasuya-sacrifice, had also to suffer death.
यत्नतः प्रथितेत्यूचुः सर्वानभिभवन् पृथुः। क्षतान्नस्त्रास्यते सर्वानित्येवं क्षत्रियोऽभवत्॥
Having vanquished all his foes with great efforts, he consolidated his empire, for which he came to be called Prithu (or the celebrated). He became a true Kshatriya, owing to his protecting his subjects from wounds and injuries.
पृथु वैन्यं प्रजा दृष्ट्वा रक्ताः स्मेति यदब्रुवन्। ततो राजेति नामास्य अनुरागादजायत॥
Beholding Vena's son Prithu, his subjects said, “We are delighted and in consequence of the affection of his subjects which he enjoyed, he came to be called Raja.
अकृष्टपच्या पृथिवी आसीद् वैन्यस्य कामधुक्। सर्वाः कामदुघा गावः पुटके पुटके मधु॥
The Earth yielded corn without being cultivated and for Vena's son Prithu she fulfilled all his desires. The cows also yielded milk whenever desired and every lotus-bud was filled with honey.
आसन् हिरण्मया दर्भाः सुखस्पर्शाः सुखावहाः। तेषां चौराणि संवीताः प्रजास्तेष्वेव शेरते॥
The sacred Kusha grass were all made of gold and were delicate to the touch and otherwise delightful. The people used to wear cloths made of this grass and they used to lie down on beds composed of them.
फलान्यमृतकल्पानि स्वादूनि च मधूनि च। तेषामासीत् तदाहारो निराहाराश्च नाभवन्॥
Fruits, nectareous, tasteful and delicate, then became their chief edible; and none went without food.
अरोगाः सर्वसिद्धार्था मनुष्य ह्यकुतोभयाः। न्यवसन्त यथाकामं वृक्षेषु च गुहासु च॥
In his kingdom men lived free from all diseases, their desires were all crowned with fruition, they entertained no fear. They lived on trees and in caves, as it pleased them.
प्रविभागो न राष्ट्राणां पुराणां चाभवत् तदा। यथासुखं यथाकामं तथैता मुदिताः प्रजाः॥
His dominions and his cities were not divided into smaller sections and countries. There his subjects lived delightedly, as it suited their desire or convenience.
तस्य संस्तम्भिता ह्यापः समुद्रमभियास्यतः। पर्वताश्च ददुर्मार्ग ध्वजभङ्गश्च नाभवत्॥
When king Prithu repaired to the sea, its waves become solidified. The very mountains opened a way for him and his standard never broke (being obstructed by any thing).
तं वनस्पतयः शैला देवासुरनरोरगाः। सप्तर्षयः पुण्यजना गन्धवाप्सरसोऽपि च॥ पितरश्च सुखासीनमभिगम्येदमब्रुवन्। सम्राडसि क्षत्रियोऽसि राजा गोप्ता पितासि नः॥ देह्यस्मभ्यं महाराज प्रभुः सन्नीप्सितान् वरान्। यैर्वयं शाश्वतीस्तृप्तीवर्तयिष्यामहे सुखम्॥
Him seated at his ease, the mighty trees of the forest, the gods of the mountains, the celestials, the Asuras, the men and the replies the seven sages, sages, the holy ascetics, the Gandharvas, the Apsaras and the ancestral manes, approaching said these words-"You are our Emperor, you protect us from injuries, you are ever our delighter, saviour and father. Give us, O mighty monarch, O Master, the boons we desire to have-boons through whose virtue we may live in happiness and plenty, for eternal years.
तथेत्युक्त्वा पृथुर्वैन्यो गृहीत्वाऽऽजगवं धनुः। शरांश्चाप्रतिमान् घोरांश्चिन्तयित्वाब्रवीन्महीम्॥
Then saying yea' to all their prayers, Vena's son Prithu took up his Ajagava bow and several dreadful arrows, whose equals existed not; then thinking for a while, he
एह्येहि वसुधे क्षिप्रं क्षरैभ्यः काक्षितं पयः। ततो दास्यामि भद्रं ते अन्नं यस्य यथेप्सितम्॥
"Come, come, O Earth, quickly give these my subjects the milk they desire. Good betide you; from the milk you shall shed, I desire to give my subjects the edibles they wish to have.
वसुधोवाच दुहितृत्वेन मां वीर संकल्पयितुमर्हसि। तथेत्युक्वा पृथुः सर्वे विधानमकरोद् वशी॥
The Earth said "O Hero, it behoves you to look upon me as your own daughter." Saying, “So be it” the self-controlled Prithu, then arranged for (milking the Earth).
ततो भूतनिकायास्तां वसुधां दुदुहुस्तदा। तां वनस्पतयः पूर्वं समुत्तस्थधुक्षवः॥
Then the whole assemblage of creatures begin to milk the Earth (successively). The mighty trees of the forest then first approached her, desirous of milking her.
साऽतिष्ठद् वत्सला वत्संदोग्धृपात्राणि चेच्छती। वत्सोऽभूत पुष्पितः शालः प्लक्षो दोग्धाऽभवत् तदा।।
There then stood the highly affectionate Earth (as a cow), looking for a calf, a milker and a pot wherein to keep the milk. Then the flowering Shala tree became the calf and the Plaksha became the milker.
छिन्नप्ररोहणं दुग्धं पात्रमौदुम्बरं शुभम्। उदयः पर्वतो वत्सो मेरुर्दोगधा महागिरिः॥
Torn buds become the milk and the auspicious fig tree became the milk-pot. (Next the mountains appeared to milk her) The Eastern hill then became the calf and the mighty Meru-mountain became the milkman.
रत्नान्योषधयो दुग्धं पात्रमश्ममयं तथा। दोग्धा चासीत् तदा देवो दुग्धमूर्जस्करं प्रियम्॥
Jewels and precious stones and the Osadhis became the milk and the stones became the milk-jar. Next the celestials became the milkers and everything capable of imparting energy became the milk.
असुरा दुदुहुर्मायामामपात्रे तु ते तदा। दोग्धा द्विमूधातत्रासीद् वत्सश्चासीद् विरोचनः॥
Next the Asuras milked urine from the Earth, in unbaked earthen jars. Dvimurdha (the two-headed) then became the milker and Virochana became the calf.
कृर्षि च सस्यं च नरा दुदुहुः पृथिवीतले। स्वायम्भुवो मनुर्वत्सस्तेषां दोग्धाऽभवत् पृथुः॥
Next the men milked her when products of cultivation and crops became the milk; the selfcreate Manu became the calf and Prithu the milker, on this occasion.
अलाबुपात्रे च तथा विषं दुग्धा वसुंधरा। धृतराष्ट्रोऽभवद् दोग्धा तेषां वत्सस्तु तक्षकः॥
Next the snakes milked her and they received poison for milk in in gourds. Dhritarashtra became the milker and Takshaka became the calf.
सप्तर्षिभिर्ब्रह्म दुग्धा तथा चाक्लिष्टकर्मभिः। दोग्धा बृहस्पतिः पात्रं छान्दो वत्सश्च सोमराट्॥
The seven sages untiring in work, next milked her and obtained the knowledge of the Supreme Brahma for the milk. Then Brihaspati became the milker the Vedas became the milkpot and the Somarat became the calf,
अन्तर्धानं चामपात्रे दुग्धा पुण्यजनैर्विराट्। दोग्धा वैश्रवणस्तेषां वत्सश्चासीद् वृषध्वजः॥
The Rakshasas milking her, in a jar of unbaked Earth, obtained the power of disappearing at will. Their milker Vaishravana and Vrishadhvaja was their calf.
पुण्यगन्धान् पद्मपात्रे गन्धर्वाप्सरसोऽदुहन्। वत्सश्चित्ररथस्तेषां दोग्धा विश्वरुचिः प्रभुः॥
The Apsaras and the Gandharvas milked her of holy fragrance and received it in lotuspetals. Chitraratha became their calf and the lord Visvaruchi became their milker.
स्वधां रजतपात्रेषु दुदुहुः पितरश्च ताम्। वत्सो वैवस्वतस्तेषां यमो दोग्धाऽन्तकस्तदा॥
The ancestral manes milked her of Svadhas in pots of silver. Vaivasvata became their calf and the Destroyer (Yama) himself became their milker.
एवं निकायैस्तैर्दुधा पयोऽभीष्टं हि सा विराट्। यैर्वर्तयन्ति ते ह्यद्य पात्रैर्वत्सैश्च नित्यशः॥
Thus was the Earth milked by that entire host of creatures, who obtained for milk all objects of their respective desire. The very was calves and the pots, with whose help they milked could be seen even today.
यज्ञैश्च विविधैरिष्ट्वा पृथुर्वैन्यः प्रतापवान्। संतर्पयित्वा भूतानि सर्वैः कामैर्मनः प्रियैः॥
Then Vena's son Prithu, possessed of prowess, celebrated various sacrifices and he gratified the hearts of creature with objects desired by them.
हैरण्यानकरोद् राजा ये केचित् पार्थिवा भुवि। तान् ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रायच्छदश्वमेधे महामखे॥
The king caused all objects obtaining of the face of the Earth to be made of gold and on the occasion of his great Horse-sacrifice, he gave them away to the Brahmanas.
षष्टिनागसहस्राणि षष्टिनागशतानि च। सौवर्णानकरोद् राजा ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च तान् ददौ॥
The king caused sixty-six thousands images of elephants to be made of gold and he gave them away to the Brahmanas.
इमां च पृथिवीं सर्वां मणिरत्नविभूषिताम्। सौवर्णीमकरोद् राजा ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च तां ददौ॥
The entire Earth adorned with jewels and gems, the king caused to be covered over with gold and he then gave her away to the Brahmanas.
स चेन्ममार सृज्जय चतुर्भद्रतरस्त्वया। पुत्रात् पुण्यतरस्तुभ्यं मा पुत्रमनुतप्यथाः। अयज्वानमदाक्षिण्यमभि श्वैत्येतयुदाहरत्॥
When, O Srinjaya, even such a king, who was superior to you in respect of the four virtues and consequently much more superior to your son, you should not lament for your son who performed no sacrifices and made no sacrificial gifts-saying, 'O Shvaitya'.