Prithu descended from King Anena. After the death of Anena, the country is left without a King. The sages rubbed the right hand from it sprang the Prithu. Once, the earth swallowed all vegetation and thus, there was no food for humankind. So, Prithu milked Prithvi, who had assumed the form of a cow and adopted her as his daughter. He became her protecter. He flattened the hills to make plains and established towns and villages there. According to the Bhagavata Purana, his rule saw unprecedented prosperity and advances on earth and consequently his name became a synonym for 'earth' in Sanskrit - prithvi or prthvi.

Prithu consolidates his domains and protects his subjects who are in turn so pleased with him that they call him Raja. His rule is characterised by utopian conditions and the Raja ensures that the earth gives to each person whatever they require, the cows give milk, the trees bear luscious fruit and men are free from fear, old age, disease and calamities. Vishnu enters the body of Prithu, the Vishnu Purana states, and consecrates him as the Raja. The Raja is now being graced with divinity as he assumes the role of the Protector and the Provider for his people. Prithu embodies the values of kingship which remain relevant across the Yugas. He was descended by the King Vishvagashva.