The story begins with a moment of harsh judgment. Dirghatamas, a sage, is rebuked by his wife, who declares, “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 places him upon a raft of wood and casts him into the waters of the sacred Ganges, saying, “Because you are blind, old, and difficult to support, you must be abandoned.” As Dirghatamas is swept away by the river’s swift current, the righteous Bali, son of Virocana, sees him and rescues him from the waters. Bali brings the sage into his own inner apartments, caring for him with food and delicacies. Pleased with Dirghatamas, Bali offers him any boon he desires. Dirghatamas, seeking offspring, requests, “Grant that my illustrious wife may bear sons for me, O giver of honor, who possess knowledge of righteousness, purpose, and truth.” Bali consents and, knowing Dirghatamas to be blind and aged, sends his own wife, Sudeṣṇā, to the sage. However, Sudeṣṇā refuses to go herself and instead sends a Śūdra maidservant as a nurse. In her, the self-controlled sage begets sons—Kakṣīvat and others—born in the Śūdra caste. These sons are skilled in the duties of sages, masters of sacred speech, learned in righteousness, intelligent, virtuous, and pure. Bali claims, “They are indeed mine,” and the sage bows, replying, “They are indeed mine.” Though born in a Śūdra womb, the sons were begotten at Bali’s wish. Dirghatamas explains that Sudeṣṇā, knowing him to be blind and aged, sent the Śūdra nurse out of disrespect. Bali, wishing to appease the sage, rebukes his wife and, after adorning her, sends Sudeṣṇā to Dirghatamas. This time, the queen obeys. Dirghatamas instructs 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.” Sudeṣṇā does as instructed, but avoids drinking. The sage tells her, “Since you have avoided the drinking, you will bear a son, but he will be the eldest.” Sudeṣṇā protests, “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.” But Dirghatamas replies, “Because of your transgression, it cannot be otherwise; your son will not give you grandsons, but your grandsons will bear fruit.” He explains, “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. There will be five sons, O goddess, equal to the sons of the gods—brilliant, well-conducted, performers of sacrifice, and righteous.” Thus, Sudeṣṇā bears five sons: Aṅga, Kaliṅga, Puṇḍra, Suhma, and Vanga. These five, the sons of Bali, are born of the field and given to Bali by Dirghatamas. For those who had attained establishment, Dirghatamas causes them to become Brahmins, generating offspring from the human lineage. Then Surabhi, the divine cow, speaks to Dirghatamas, “Because you have made the law of the cow your authority, O mighty one, and because of your unwavering devotion to us, I am pleased with you, O blameless one; therefore, I will inhale and dispel from you the long darkness. This sin of Brihaspati also remains in you; I will inhale and remove from you old age, death, and darkness.” Immediately, as Surabhi inhales, the eminent sage Asita is endowed with long life, beauty, and sight. With the darkness dispelled by the cow, Gautama arises, and Kakṣīvat, together with his father, enters Girivraja. Kakṣīvat, after seeing and touching his father, sits in austerity for a long time and is purified by asceticism. He casts off his maternal body, attains Brahminhood, and Dirghatamas says to him, “I am a father because of you. With a righteous and renowned son, I am fulfilled.” Having released himself, Dirghatamas attains the abode of Brahman. Kakṣīvat, now a Brahmin, produces a thousand sons; the Kaushmandas and Gautamas are remembered as his descendants. Thus, the meeting of Dirghatamas, Bali, and Vairocana, and the lineage of both, is recounted. Bali, praising his five sinless sons, speaks, and, righteous in soul and fulfilled, is enveloped in yogic power. He becomes invisible to all beings, awaiting the proper time. Among his descendants, the heir of Aṅga is king Dadhivahana. Dadhivahana’s son is Diviratha, and from Diviratha’s lineage comes the wise king Dharmaratha. Dharmaratha, glorious, together with the great-souled king Shukra, drinks Soma upon the mountain at Vishnu’s place. Dharmaratha’s son is Citraratha, whose son is Satyaratha, and from him is born Dasharatha. Dasharatha becomes known as Lomapada; his daughter is Shanta. Then arises the heroic descendant of Dasharatha, famed for his fourfold army. Thus unfolds the tale of Dirghatamas, Bali, their descendants, and the noble lineages that sprang from their union and devotion.