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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 4: Chapter 21: Verses 1-16
King Prthu's teaching to his subjects
Maitreya continued : The city was decorated everywhere with (strings of) pearls, wreaths of flowers, drapery, ornamental arches of gold and highly fragrant incense (burning in censers). It had its streets, quadrangles and high-ways sprinkled with water perfumed with sandal and aloe, and was adorned with flowers, unbroken rice, fruits, young blades of barley, parched grains of rice and lights. It was beautified with stems of bananas containing bunches of flowers and fruits, as well as with young arecas (uprooted and planted here and there by way of decoration), and was embellished all round with festoons prepared with the leaves of various trees (mango etc.). People of the city and (particularly) fair-looking maids adorned with polished ear-rings advanced to greet him with lights and presents as well as with all kinds of auspicious substances (such as curds etc.) collected (for the occasion). Extolled (by bards and minstrels), yet free from pride, the hero entered the palace in the midst of a flourish of conchs and the crash of kettledrums and the chant of Vedic hymns by the priests. Greeted everywhere (on the route) and (highly) pleased, king Prthu of great renown honoured the citizens as well as the different classes of his subjects hailing from the countryside, by granting them boons which delighted them. Doing many such deeds (as the milching of Earth), the great monarch of unimpeachable conduct and the most adored of all ruled over the terrestrial globe and, after establishing an extensive renown, (eventually) ascended to the highest abode (of the Lord). Suta went on : Vidura, that eminent votary of the Lord, O Saunaka (the leader of the assemblage of sages collected in the forest of Naimisa)! hailed the sage Maitreya (the son of Kusaru)--as the latter dwelt upon the glory of king Prthu (the first constitutional monarch on this globe), which had been augmented by excellences of every kind and had won the homage of men of great virtues-and spoke (as follows). Vidura said : What did that Prthu (further) do, who was installed as king by the Brahmanas, received presents from all the gods and bore the prowess of Lord Visnu in his arms, by which he milked Earth (in the form of a cow)? What knowing man would not hear the glory of king Prthu; for it is the remains of whatever was achieved by his valour that all the (so-called) rulers of the earth as well as the different worlds and their guardian deities enjoy to their heart's content even to this day. Therefore, pray, tell (me more of) his faultless doings. Maitreya resumed : Living in (ruling over) the holy stretch of land lying between the two rivers, the Ganga and the Yamuna, he enjoyed only such pleasures as had been earned by his past deeds and (that too) with a view to exhausting his merits (and not for the gratification of his senses). His commands were respected everywhere and he held undisputed sway over all the seven main divisions of the terrestrial globe, barring, of course, the Brahmanas and the votaries of the immortal Lord (who recognize the Lord alone as their progenitor). Once he consecrated himself for a great sacrificial session and there was a huge gathering on that occasion of heavenly beings, Brahmana seers and royal sages, O noblest Vidura ! When all the venerable persons in that assembly had been duly honoured according to their rank and position, the king rose in their midst like the moon in the midst of stars. He was tall of stature with brawny and long arms and had a fair complexion, eyes ruddy as a lotus, a shapely nose and a lovely countenance. He was gentle in appearance, had rounded shoulders, beautiful (rows of) teeth and a winsome smile. Full of vigour, he had a broad chest, bulky hips and a belly shaped like a leaf of the holy fig tree and charming with folds. His navel was deep and circular like an eddy; his thighs resembled a pair of gold pillars; and his feet were slightly elevated in front.
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