Priyavrata

One-line: king whose chariot wheels create Book 8’s ring-shaped world map.

First appears: Book 8, in Book 8 retelling.

Who they are: Priyavrata gives Book 8 one of its strangest images. Wanting to end the unevenness of day and night, he drives around the world in a blazing chariot. The ruts become the oceans, and the land between them becomes the seven continents.

What they do that matters:

• Drives around the earth seven times.
• Creates the seven oceans and seven dvipas by his wheel-ruts.
• Assigns continents to his sons, then turns toward renunciation.

Other names: None in this storybook layer.

Family / lineage (when relevant): Son of Svayambhuva Manu.