Prathu

Prathu / पृथु

Prathu was a king, son of Venu. King Venu became the sovereign of the earth, but he was wicked by nature and prohibited worship and sacrifice.
Deprived of the right to worship, the pious sages were furious, and beat Venu to death with blades of holy grass.
To overcome robbery and anarchy in the absence of a king, the sages, after a lot of consideration, proceeded to rub the thigh of the dead king in order to produce a son.
There came forth a man like a charred log, with flat face and extremely short. This man became a Nishad, and with him came out the sins of the departed king.
The Brahmans then rubbed the right arm of the corpse, and from it sprang the majestic Prathu, resplendent in body, glowing like Agni.
At his birth all creatures rejoiced and through the birth of this virtuous son, Venu, delivered from the hell, ascended to heaven.
Prathu then became invested with universal dominion. His subjects, who had suffered from famine, besought him for the edible plants which the earth withheld.
In anger he seized his bow to compel Bhumi to yield the usual supply. Bhumi assumed the form of a cow and fled before him.
Unable to escape, she implored him to spare her, and promised to restore all the needed fruits if a calf were given to her, through which she might be able to secrete milk.
He therefore, having made Manu Svayambhuv the calf, milked the earth, and received the milk into his own hand for the benefit of mankind.
Thence proceeded all kinds of corn and vegetables upon which people subsist now and perpetually. Granting life to Bhumi, Prathu was as her father, and she thence derived the patronymic Prithvi.
Prathu had six sons, viz. Vijitashva, Antardhan, Vadi, Sut, Magadh and Palit.

Prathu

Prathu / पृथु

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