Once, Brihaspati, the radiant sage and lord of speech, was confronted by his elder brother’s wife, who cautioned him, “You, whose seed is never in vain, ought not to approach me. In this situation, act as you think proper, lord.” Despite her words, Brihaspati, overwhelmed by desire, did not restrain himself. Though she was unwilling, he united with her, and as he released his seed, the child already present in her womb spoke out. “O father, lord of speech,” the unborn child declared, “there is no place here for two—your seed, which is never in vain, and I, who have come first.” Angered by this bold interruption, Brihaspati cursed the child in his brother’s wife’s womb. “Because, though in the womb, you have opposed me at such a time and spoken thus, therefore you shall enter deep darkness for a long time.” Thus, as a result of the curse, a seer named Dīrghatamas was born. From Dīrghatamas came Bṛhatkīrti, endowed with power like Brihaspati himself. Dīrghatamas, practicing celibacy, dwelled in his brother’s hermitage, where he learned the righteous duties and the Saurabheya teachings from the bull. His paternal uncle, who was also his brother, provided for him. While Dīrghatamas lived there, a bull happened to come by. For the sake of sacrifice, Surabhi’s son gathered darbha grass; Dīrghatamas seized the bull by its horns and held the four-footed creature fast. The bull, unable to move even a single step, spoke to Dīrghatamas: “Release me, O best of the strong. O father, I have never encountered anyone as strong as you, nor is there anyone equal to me in strength; release me, father, and since 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 explained, “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 this law of cows, Dīrghatamas became anxious and released the bull. He sought to please the lord of cows by giving food and drink as he was able. When the bull was pleased and departed, Dīrghatamas devoted himself with faith to the law of cows, fixing his mind upon it with steadfast intent. Later, Dīrghatamas approached the younger wife of Gautama, who was proud. Considering her like a barren cow, he was unable to tolerate her. Believing the law of cows to be supreme, he approached his daughter-in-law, rebuked her, restrained her, and seized her with his arms. Sensing 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.” Placing Dīrghatamas on a raft of wood, she cast him into the waters of the Ganges, saying, “Because you are blind, old, and difficult to support, you must be abandoned.” As he was carried away swiftly by the current, the righteous Bali, son of Virocana, approached and rescued him. Within his inner apartments, Bali protected Dīrghatamas, satisfying him with food and delicacies, and, being pleased, offered him a boon of his choosing. Dīrghatamas chose a boon for the sake of offspring: “Grant that my illustrious wife may bear sons for me, O giver of honor, who possess knowledge of righteousness, purpose, and truth.” The divine sage replied, “So be it.” Knowing Dīrghatamas to be blind and aged, King Bali sent his own wife, Sudeṣṇā, to the sage; but the queen did not go. 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. The righteous sage begot Śūdra sons in her. Seeing Kakṣīvat and the others, the mighty king said to him, “They are indeed mine.” The sage replied with a bow, “They are indeed mine. Though born in a Śūdra womb, they were begotten at your wish, O best of gods. Knowing me to be blind and aged, your queen Sudeṣṇā sent me the Śūdra nurse out of disrespect, O king.” Bali sought to appease the sage and rebuked his wife Sudeṣṇā. Again, after adorning her, Bali sent Sudeṣṇā to the sage, and the queen did as she was instructed. Dīrghatamas said to her, “Anoint yourself with curds mixed with salt and honey, and lick me from foot to head without disgust; then, O queen, you will obtain sons as you desire in your heart.” The queen did everything as he instructed, but when it came to drinking, she avoided it. Then he said to her, “O auspicious one, since you have avoided the drinking, you will bear a son, but he will be the eldest.” Sudeṣṇā pleaded, “O blessed one, you ought not to give me such a son. Since I am pleased as far as possible, grant me your favor, O lord.” Dīrghatamas replied, “O auspicious one, because of your transgression, it cannot be otherwise; your son will not give you grandsons, but your grandsons will bear fruit.” Because she did not drink, there would be fitness; therefore, touching Dīrghatamas’s limbs, Bali spoke thus: “Whatever was tasted on your limbs, O fair-smiling one, but not on the generative organ, those remain in the womb like the full moon on the night of the full moon.