There was a famine in the kingdom of Prthu and the king wondered what the cause for this was. Bhooma Devi kept the grains hidden and when the king realised this, he was upset, said P.T. Seshadri in a discourse.
Prthu shot an arrow at the earth. Bhooma Devi asked Prthu why he was eager to harm her. The King replied, “You gladly take the havis offered during yagas. But you hide grains and make the people suffer. Is this fair?
“One who saves herself and fails to save others, one who is indifferent to the sufferings of others... does such a person deserve any consideration? That is the attitude you have exhibited. To destroy such a person is a king’s dharma.”
Prthu was an avatara of Vishnu and so Bhooma Devi said, “Why are you targeting me? Did you not, as Varaha, save me from a demon? It was because of this act of Yours that You acquired the name Dharaadhara — One who supports the earth. Is it right for You to torment me so?”
She then elaborated on the reasons for her withholding grains from the people. “There are wicked people on this earth, who hoard grains. They do not care about the earth being dirtied and they treat the earth with disrespect. People are selfish and thieves go about their work without fear.
“In such circumstances, why should I release the grains? Will it not benefit the wicked? If I were to reward the hoarders, will they not be encouraged to indulge in more acts of adharma?
“That is why I made the crops fail. I caused the seeds to spoil. Ensure that people follow the path of dharma. Then the rains will come, and I will also give people the prosperity that they yearn for.”
The king assured her that he would do as she said, and thus ensured prosperity for the people.