Page:Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Purānic.djvu/39

 a king named Venā, notorious for his wickedness and general neglect of religious duties. When the Rishis of that age could bear with his impiety no longer, they slew him. But now a worse evil happened ; anarchy prevailed, and they felt that a bad king was better than none at all. Upon this they rubbed the thigh of Venā, when there came forth a black dwarf, resembling a negro in appearance. Immediately after his birth the dwarf asked, “What am I to do?” He is told, “Nisida” (sit down), and from this his descendants are called “Nisidis” unto this day. The corpse was now pure, as all sin has left it in the body of this black dwarf. The right arm was then rubbed, and from it there came a beautiful shining prince, who was named Prithu, and reigned in the place of his father. Now during his reign there was a terrible famine. As the Earth would not yield her fruits, great distress prevailed. Prithu said. “I will slay the Earth, and make her yield her fruits." Terrified at this threat, the Earth assumed the form of a cow, and was pursued by Prithu, even to the heaven of Brahmā. At length, weary with the chase, she turned to him and said, “Know you not the sin of killing a female, that you thus try to slay me?” The king replied that “when the happiness of many is secured by the destruction of one malignant being, the slaughter of that being is an act of virtue.” “But,” said the Earth, “if in order to promote the welfare of your subjects, you put an end to me, whence, best of monarchs, will thy people derive their support ?” Overcome at length, the Earth declared that all vegetable products were old, and destroyed by her, but that at the king's command she would restore them“ as developed from her milk.” “Do you, therefore, for the benefit of mankind, give me that