Nava, the son of King Yayāti, ruled over the territory known as Navarāṣṭra, while Kṛmi established his city at Kṛmilā. Suvrata’s realm was called Vṛṣṭā. Now, let us turn to the lineage of Śivi. Śivi was blessed with four illustrious sons, whose names became renowned throughout the world: Vṛṣadarbha, Suvīra, Kekaya, and Madraka. Their descendants flourished and gave their names to prosperous regions: the Kekayas, Madrakas, Vṛṣadarbhas, and Sūcidarbhas. Let us now hear of the people born from Titikṣu. Taitikṣu, a celebrated king who ruled in the eastern direction, had a son of great strength named Uśadratha. In the same line, Hema had a son called Sutapā, and Sutapā’s own son was Sutayaśā, a powerful man who was born among humans when the family line was dwindling, his birth sought for the sake of continuing the lineage. In this same illustrious ancestry, there was Bali, a great yogi who, despite being bound, was magnanimous of spirit. Bali’s sons were those who established the four social orders upon the earth. He fathered Aṅga, Vaṅga, Suhla, Puṇḍra, Kaliṅga, and Bāleya—these became known as the Kṣatriya clans. From Bali also descended the Bāleyas and the Brāhmaṇas. Out of affection for this wise king, Brahmā granted Bali special boons: immense yogic power, a lifespan spanning an entire kalpa, invincibility in battle, and supreme eminence in righteousness. Bali was also granted the vision of the three worlds, preeminence in progeny, unmatched strength, and deep insight into the nature and meaning of righteousness. The Lord instructed him to establish the four fixed social classes, and thus, so addressed, King Bali attained supreme peace. In time, this wise king reached his destined abode, and the lands of his sons—Vanga, Anga, and Suhila—prospered. So too did the regions of the Puṇḍras and Kaliṅgas. Now, let us hear of their lineage. All of Bali’s sons were born “of the field,” descended from sages, begotten in Sudenna by the mighty sage Dirghatamas. At this point, the sages, eager for knowledge, asked: “How were five sons of Bali born of the field, O Lord, by the sage Dirghatamas? Tell us, as we ask.” The Suta replied: There was once a renowned and wise sage named Ashija. His wife was Mamata, a woman of great soul. Ashija’s youngest son was Brihaspati, the brilliant priest of the gods. One day, Brihaspati approached Mamata. However, Mamata, unwilling, spoke to him: “I am already pregnant with your elder brother’s child, eight months along. This great embryo is dear to me, O Brihaspati; Ashija, uttering the six-limbed Veda, is Brahma incarnate. Your seed is unfailing, but you should not unite with me. Let it be as you wish when the time comes.” Despite her words, Brihaspati, overwhelmed by desire, did not restrain himself. He united with Mamata, and as he released his seed, the child already in her womb spoke: “A twice-born should not be placed here; there can be no union of two in this place. Your seed is unfailing, but I came here first.” Angered by these words, Brihaspati cursed the child in the womb, who was his brother’s son and a sage: “Because you spoke to me thus at such a time, when all beings desire birth, out of delusion, you shall enter long darkness.” Due to this curse, the sage was born as Dirghatamas. Ashija, famed and mighty, was like Brihaspati in strength. Dirghatamas, holding his seed upward, dwelt in his brother’s hermitage, where he learned the dharma of cattle from the bull. His paternal uncle, Ashija’s brother, built a dwelling for him. As Dirghatamas lived there, a bull arrived by chance. Seeking darbha grass for ritual, Dirghatamas wandered, accompanied by Surabhi, the divine cow. He seized the bull, which was tossing its horns, but despite his efforts, the bull did not move a single step. Then, the bull spoke: “Release me, O foremost of the strong. Never before, O father, have I encountered anyone as powerful as you, who carries Lord Tryambaka, since I was born on earth. Release me, O best of the strong; I am pleased with you—choose a boon.” Dirghatamas replied, “You are my life—where could I go? Therefore, I will not release you; I am another’s property, a four-footed being.” The bull then addressed Dirghatamas, who was enveloped in darkness: “For us, O father, there is neither sin nor theft; we do not know what is to be eaten or not eaten, nor what is to be drunk or not drunk, in any way. We do not discern what is to be done or not done, nor what is to be approached or avoided; O Brahmin, we are not afflicted by sin—this is the law for cows.” Hearing even the name of cows, Dirghatamas became agitated and released the bull. With devotion and reverence, he sought the favor of the cows. When he had gained their favor and departed, he embraced the dharma of cows with steadfastness and dedication, holding it firmly in his mind. Then, by fate, Dirghatamas, his mind bewildered, desired the younger wife of Auttathya, who was restless and weeping. Śaradvān, thinking Dirghatamas arrogant, could not tolerate this, but relying on the law of cows as his strength, Dirghatamas considered his daughter-in-law as equal. Seeing this reversal, Śaradvān reflected. Knowing what was to come, the great-souled one did not wish for Dirghatamas’s death. With eyes reddened in anger, he spoke to Dirghatamas: “You do not discern what is proper or improper; yet, invoking the law of cows, you desire your daughter-in-law.