King Prithu: The Sacred Monarch Who Made the Earth Flourish
After King Vena’s demise, the sages retrieved his body and churned his arms. From them emerged a man and a woman—destined to restore righteousness. Believing them to be incarnations of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, the sages named them Prithu and Archi. The two were married immediately to continue King Vena’s lineage.
As Prithu was born, bows and armor fell from the heavens, symbolizing divine protection, and King Vena attained heaven due to his son’s virtue. The Gandharvas sang melodious hymns, sages offered praises, apsaras danced in joy, and celestial flowers showered upon the divine couple. Every being on Earth rejoiced at their birth.
The Drought and the Pursuit of Mother Earth
Years later, a severe drought struck the land. People struggled to find enough grain even for a single meal. Seeing his subjects in distress, King Prithu decided to act. Enraged by the suffering of his people, he resolved to punish Mother Earth.
Frightened, Bhudevi (Mother Earth) took the form of a cow and fled, with King Prithu in pursuit. Eventually, realizing escape was futile, she stopped and asked the king why he sought to kill her.
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| King Prithu is chasing Mother Earth in the form of a cow. |
Prithu replied,“My people are starving. We have given you water and nourishment, yet you withhold food. I will end your life and feed your body to the hungry.”
Bhudevi responded,“If you destroy me, all life will perish, for I hold within me the seeds of every plant. Instead, draw sustenance from my milk, and life will thrive again.”
She asked him to bring a calf and a vessel to collect her milk. King Prithu brought Swayambhuva Manu as the calf and used his cupped hands as the vessel, pouring the milk of abundance onto the land, nurturing all vegetation.
The sages, gods, demons, and spirits followed suit, each creating their own calves and vessels to draw what they desired:
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The sages, with Brihaspati as their calf, drew knowledge.
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The gods, with Indra as their calf, drew nectar.
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The demons, using Prahlada, drew potent liquor.
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Rudradev, as the calf of spirits and ghosts, drew blood into a skull-shaped pot.
Thus, each being received its rightful share.
After granting everyone’s wishes, King Prithu broke mountains, levelled lands, and made the earth fertile. From that day forward, the Earth became known as Prithvi—the daughter of King Prithu, the nurturer of life.
The Ashwamedha Yagna and Indra’s Deception
In time, King Prithu conducted a hundred Ashwamedha Yagas in Brahmavarta, east of the Saraswati River. Fearing that Prithu’s power would surpass his own, Indra stole the sacrificial horse.
When Sage Atri informed the king, Prithu ordered his son Vijitashva to retrieve the horse and punish Indra. The prince pursued Indra, who disguised himself as a sage. Seeing through the deception, Vijitashva fired an arrow, forcing Indra to surrender. Indra returned the horse and begged for forgiveness at King Prithu’s feet.
At that moment, Lord Brahma appeared and said: “Indra and the Devas must partake in every sacrifice. To harm him is unjust. End your hundredth yajna here.”
King Prithu humbly obeyed Brahma’s command.
The Final Journey
Having fulfilled his duties and established prosperity across the world, King Prithu crowned his son as ruler. He then renounced worldly life, meditated deeply on Lord Vishnu, and peacefully departed his mortal body.
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