King · All traditions · Pan-India

Prithu

Also called: Prithi Vainya, Prithu Vainya

Prithu son of Vena, in the Puranas the first consecrated king. Born from the arm of the dead Vena, he chases the Earth, who has withheld her plants, until she agrees to be milked; he levels the ground and founds farming and settled life. The Atharvaveda already names Prithi Vainya as the milker for mankind.

Sources: Hymns of the Atharva-Veda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1895); The Vishnu Purana, tr. H. H. Wilson (1840); The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer · see Prithu's web

Relations 2

Prithu blessed

Prithvi (God) · Prithu milks the Earth
Prithu spares the Earth's life and is counted her father; she is named Prithivi after him (Vishnu Purana).

Prithu child of

Vena (King) · Prithu milks the Earth
Prithu is produced by the sages from the right arm of the dead Vena.

Stories 1

Prithu milks the Earth
Legend · as the king who chases and milks the Earth · 5 tellings

Cited

Hymns of the Atharva-Veda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1895) § 8.10.24 Primary text (translation)
The Vishnu Purana, tr. H. H. Wilson (1840) § 1.13 Primary text (translation)
The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § drona.69 Primary text (translation)
The Mahabharata, tr. K. M. Ganguli (1883-96), sections read for the Vedic layer § shanti.59 Primary text (translation)