As the tale unfolds, we see a blind and aged Brahmin, abandoned by those around him who, thinking, “Why should we support this blind and old man?” returned to their homes, leaving him to his fate. By chance, the Brahmin found himself drifting downstream on a raft, journeying through many lands despite his blindness. It was during this wandering that King Bali, foremost among those who understand dharma, saw the Brahmin immersed in the water, carried near by the current. Filled with righteousness and true valor, Bali rescued the Brahmin and, after hearing his story, offered him a boon, desiring a son. Honoring the sage and giving him rest, Bali requested, “O most fortunate one, giver of honor, for the sake of progeny, please beget sons in my wives who are skilled in righteousness and wealth.” The radiant sage agreed, saying, “So be it.” Bali then sent his own wife, Sudeṣṇā, to the sage. The sage begot eleven sons, including Kākṣīvad and others, but these were born in the womb of Sudeṣṇā’s Śūdra maidservant. When the king saw these sons, he asked the sage, “Are these mine?” The sage replied, “No, these are not yours. Kākṣīvad and the others were born by me in the womb of a Śūdra woman. Seeing me blind and aged, your queen Sudeṣṇā, foolishly disregarding me, gave me her Śūdra maidservant as a nurse.” Determined, Bali sought again to please the eminent sage and sent Sudeṣṇā herself to him. The sage touched the queen’s limbs and spoke, “You will have sons radiant with the brilliance of the sun.” Thus, Sudeṣṇā bore sons named Aṅga, Vaṅga, Kaliṅga, Puṇḍra, and Suhma. Their lands came to bear their names, and their fame spread across the earth: Aṅga became the land of Aṅga, Vaṅga the land of Vaṅga, Kaliṅga’s territory known as Kaliṅga, Puṇḍra’s land as Puṇḍra, and Suhma’s as Suhma. In this way, the lineage of Bali, born of the great sage, became renowned. So it was that other mighty archers and Kṣatriyas were born from Brāhmaṇas on earth, knowing supreme dharma and possessing great strength and valor. Hearing this, O mother, you too may act as you wish. Now, I will recount the cause for the continuation of the Bharata lineage. Listen as I speak. Let a virtuous Brāhmaṇa be invited with wealth, who can beget offspring in the fields of Vicitravīrya. Hearing Bhīṣma’s words, based on righteousness and purpose, mother Satyavatī addressed him again. She spoke of the case of Aucathya and what was cited about Aṅga, affirming the ancient tradition as authoritative and declaring that now was the proper time to act. “You, O Bhārata, are the eldest and best of this lineage; just as you obey your father’s words, so too fulfill my request, O sinless one. Your younger brother, dearly beloved to you, has departed for heaven while still a child. Here are both wives of the son of the king of Kashi, endowed with beauty and youth, and desiring sons. Knowing this to be the highest righteousness for the continuation of the lineage, you ought to act according to my instruction with these two, for the sake of dharma.” Bhīṣma replied, “Mother, you have spoken of the supreme dharma without doubt; you also know the vow that binds me. For the sake of immortality or the abode of the three worlds, I would abandon my life, but never truth, under any circumstance. I know you to be righteous, steadfast in truth and valor; if you wish, you could create the three worlds here, O best of kings. You should act so that our lineage and dharma are not defeated, and our friends are delighted. You alone are the elder of the lineage, and the highest honor rests with you; you ought to declare to us the proper means for the continuation of the family. Women always hold the deepest secrets within the family, and with many arts, they influence men. O Satyavati, consider dharma, devoted to truth, so that I do not abandon truth and our lineage does not perish.” Satyavati, her words mingled with modesty and a smile, replied, “What you say is true, O mighty-armed Bharata; trusting you, I will speak for the sake of our lineage. Such a dharma in distress cannot be revealed to you; you alone are dharma in our family, you are truth, you are the supreme refuge. Whatever you say, that shall be done by us—this is my resolve; therefore, hearing my truth, do what follows. Hear, Bhīṣma, my words, which are beneficial and joined with dharma and artha. You should not disclose what is spoken in confidence; but you have heard of the king named Vasu, O bull among Bharatas. Once, I was carried in the womb as a fish by his white queen; my mother was taken from the water by a fisherman, who was supremely righteous. Bringing me to his own house, he raised me as his daughter; he was righteous, and thus became my father by dharma. For the sake of dharma, my father, who was righteous, had a boat; once, I went there in the prime of youth. Then, the foremost among knowers of dharma, the great sage Parashara, came to that boat, intending to cross the Yamuna river.