Bali, the wise and illustrious son of Virocana, performed such deeds and austerities that Brahma himself was pleased. In recognition of Bali’s devotion and virtue, Brahma granted him extraordinary boons: supreme yogic power and a lifespan equal to a kalpa, the vast age of the cosmos itself. Bali also received invincibility in battle, the highest wisdom in matters of righteousness, the divine vision to perceive the past, present, and future, and the assurance that his lineage would flourish above all others. To these gifts were added further blessings: unmatched victory in war, deep insight into the true meaning of dharma, and the authority to establish and uphold the four fixed social orders within his realm. From Bali’s line sprang five great heirs, who became the progenitors of the Vangas, Angas, Suhmas, Pundras, and Kalingas—mighty peoples known throughout the world. Among these, the lineage of Anga is especially notable. Curiosity arose as to how these five sons of the great-souled Bali came to be, who their mother was, and which sage was their progenitor. The story of their birth and greatness was thus sought. Once, there lived a renowned sage named Ushija, whose wife was Mamata, a woman of great virtue. Ushija had a younger brother, and it happened that Brihaspati, the mighty preceptor of the gods, was moved by desire for Mamata, his elder brother’s wife. Approaching her, Brihaspati was met with resistance; Mamata, who was radiant and wise, told her brother-in-law, “I am already pregnant by your elder brother; restrain yourself.” She warned him, “O blessed one, the child in my womb, son of Ushija, already recites the Veda from within and may be angered. You, whose seed is never in vain, ought not to approach me. In this situation, act as you think proper, O lord.” Despite her words, Brihaspati, though a great soul, was overcome by desire and did not restrain his mind. With her, though she was unwilling, he united. As he released his seed, the child in the womb spoke aloud: “O father, lord of speech, there is no place here for two; you whose seed is never in vain, and I, who have come first.” Angered by these words, Brihaspati, the revered sage, cursed the unborn child: “Because, though in the womb, you have opposed me and spoken thus, you shall enter deep darkness for a long time.” Thus, a seer named Dīrghatamas was born as a result of this curse. From Dīrghatamas came Bṛhatkīrti, a sage endowed with power akin to Brihaspati himself. Practicing celibacy, Dīrghatamas dwelled in his brother’s hermitage, where he learned the righteous duties and the Saurabheya teachings from a bull. During this time, his paternal uncle cared for him. One day, as the son of Surabhi gathered darbha grass for a sacrifice, Dīrghatamas seized a bull by its horns and held the four-legged creature fast. The bull could not move even a single step, and it spoke, “Release me, O best of the strong. O father, I have never met anyone as strong as you, nor is there anyone equal to me in strength. Release me, and because I am pleased with you, choose a boon.” Dīrghatamas replied, “As long as I live, where will you go? I will not release you, nor the four-footed one that belongs to another.” The bull answered, “O father, for us there is neither sin nor theft; likewise, there is no distinction between what may or may not be eaten or drunk. Among bipeds, there are many such rules, but this is the law remembered for cows: in matters of what should or should not be done, there is no restriction on coming or going.” Hearing the law of cows, Dīrghatamas became anxious and released the bull. Seeking to please the lord of cows, he offered food and drink as best he could. When the bull was satisfied and had departed, Dīrghatamas devoted himself to the law of cows, fixing his mind steadfastly upon it. Later, he approached the younger wife of Gautama, who was proud. Considering her like a barren cow and unable to tolerate her, he rebuked and restrained her, seizing her with his arms. Understanding the destined event by her own greatness, she said, “Having encountered this reversal, you behave like a barren bull. You do not know what is proper or improper; desiring a daughter from the law of cows, I now abandon you, wicked one—go your own way according to your actions.” With these words, she placed him on a raft of wood and cast him into the waters of the Ganges, saying, “Because you are blind, old, and difficult to support, you must be abandoned.” As Dīrghatamas was carried away by the swift current, the righteous Bali, son of Virocana, came upon him and rescued him from the river. Bali brought the sage into his own inner apartments, protected him, and satisfied him with food and delicacies. Pleased with Bali’s hospitality, Dīrghatamas offered him a boon of his choosing. Bali requested, “Grant that my illustrious wife may bear sons for me, O giver of honor—sons who possess knowledge of righteousness, purpose, and truth.” The divine sage replied, “So be it.” Knowing Dīrghatamas to be blind and aged, Bali sent his own wife, Sudeṣṇā, to the sage. But Sudeṣṇā did not go herself; instead, she sent a Śūdra maidservant as a nurse to him. In her, the self-controlled sage begot sons such as Kakṣīvat and others, born in the Śūdra caste. These sons, begotten by the righteous sage, were skilled in the duties of sages, masters of sacred speech, learned in manifest righteousness, intelligent, virtuous, and pure. When Bali beheld Kakṣīvat and the others, he declared, “They are indeed mine.” To this, the sage replied with a bow, “They are indeed mine.” Thus were born the noble lineages and the wise sons who carried forward the legacy of Bali and the teachings of the ancient sages.