The king Pruthu was kind and religious. His father Ven was cruel and anti religious so the condition on the earth worsened. During Ven's regime, the wicked were honoured and the gentle people were humiliated. Yajna, charity and other religious activities were prohibited. Theft and other crimes increased. Wealth and foodgrains of the gentle people were snatched by the wicked. Seeing the earth without yajna, charity and religious activities, the king Pruthu wanted to burn the earth.
To protect the people suffering from starvation, the kind king Pruthu milked the earth which took the form of a cow. By milking her, a vast amount of milk was obtained as food with which Pruthu protected the people suffering from starvation and made them happy.