In the earliest times, the world was vastly different from what we know now. There were no crops ripening in the fields, no herds of cattle grazing, no plows furrowing the earth, and no bustling trade routes connecting distant lands. Truth and falsehood had not yet arisen, nor had greed or envy found a place among living beings. Then, when the era of Vaivasvata Manu approached, a great change began. From the time of King Vainya onward, the origins of all that now exists took shape. In those days, wherever there was equality upon the earth, all creatures naturally gathered and dwelt together in harmony. But life was not easy. People survived on fruits and roots, which they found only with great effort, as tradition tells us. There was no abundance—food was scarce and hard-won. It was then that the mighty Manu Svāyambhuva was appointed as the calf, and the illustrious King Pṛthu, son of Vena, became the one to draw forth the earth’s bounty. With his own hands, Pṛthu milked the earth, and from this act, all kinds of crops began to grow. It is by this food, brought forth by Pṛthu, that all beings have been nourished ever since. In that time, not only humans but also the seers, gods, ancestors, serpents, demons, yakṣas, virtuous beings, gandharvas, mountains, and even trees, each approached the earth to draw sustenance. For each group, there was a special calf, a vessel, and a milker suited to their own nature. The seers, for instance, had Soma as their calf and Bṛhaspati as their milker; their milk was the power of austerity and the essence of Brahman, collected in the vessel of the Vedas. The gods used a golden vessel, with Indra as their calf and the radiant Sun as their milker, drawing forth vigor as their milk. The ancestors had a silver vessel, Yama as the calf, and Antaka as the milker, and their milk was nectar itself. For the serpents, Takṣaka was the calf, their vessel was called Alābu, and Airāvata the serpent was their milker; their milk was poison. Among the Asuras, the Sweet One was the cowherd, Virocana the calf, and their vessel was iron—their milk was illusory in nature. The Yakṣas used an unbaked clay vessel, with the mighty Vaishravana as the calf and a silver-hued milker, but their milk was hidden away. The Rakshasas had Sumali as their calf, a skull for their vessel, and their milk was blood. The Gandharvas, with Citraratha as their calf, used a lotus as their vessel, Suruchi as the milker, and their milk was pure fragrance. The mountains had Himavan as their calf, Meru as the milker, a stone vessel, and their milk was precious herbs and gems. Among trees, Plaksha was the calf, the blossoming Shala was the milker, the vessel was the leaf of the Palasha, and their milk was the sprouts that had been cut, burned, or regrown. Thus, the Earth herself became the supporter, creator, and purifier of all, the very foundation and womb of everything that moves and does not move. She became the wish-fulfilling cow, the source of all crops, and the earth, stretching to the ocean, became renowned everywhere for her bounty. Because she was saturated with the fat of the slain demons Madhu and Kaitabha, the wise know her as Medini. Later, when King Prithu accepted her, the goddess Earth became his daughter and was henceforth called Prithvi. By Prithu’s hand, the earth was divided and purified; she became abundant with crops, prosperous, and filled with thriving cities and towns. Such was the greatness of Vainya, King Prithu, that he is worthy of worship and honor by all beings. Even the most learned Brahmins, masters of the Vedas and Vedangas, are to revere Prithu, for he is of the eternal Brahma lineage. Kings who seek sovereignty, warriors desiring victory, wealthy Vaisyas performing their duties, and pure Shudras serving the higher classes—all are enjoined to honor Prithu, for he is the source of prosperity and well-being for all. It is said that any warrior who enters battle after praising King Prithu emerges safely from conflict, gaining fame and victory. Thus, the distinctions among calves, milkers, milk, and vessels have been described. Now, the sages asked, “O wise one, recount in detail all the Manvantaras and the creations that came before, O Lomaharshana. Tell us, Sūta, how many Manus have there been, for how long, and the nature of their eras.” To this, the sage replied, “O twice-born, the full account of all the Manvantaras could not be told even in hundreds of years. Hear now a summary. First was Svāyambhuva Manu, then Svārociṣa, Uttama, Tāmasa, Raivata, and also Cākṣuṣa. The Manu of the present era is Vaivasvata; in the future will come Sāvarṇi, Raibhya, Raucyas, and Merusāvarṇya—four Manus remembered among those past, present, and yet to come. I have named these Manus as I have heard. Now I will tell you of their sages, sons, and divine hosts. Marīci, Atri, the venerable Aṅgirā, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya, and Vasiṣṭha—these seven are sons of Brahmā. And in the northern direction are the seven sages: Āgnīdhra, Āgnibāhu, Medhya, Medhātithi, and Vasu.” Thus, the story of the earth’s transformation, the greatness of King Prithu, and the succession of Manus was recounted for the benefit of all who seek understanding.