When Dīrghatamas, caught in his grasp, pleaded for release, the mighty bull spoke with a voice both gentle and firm, “Release me, O best of the strong; I am pleased with you—choose a boon.” Dīrghatamas replied, his heart filled with longing, “You are my very life—where could I possibly go without you?” Yet the bull remained steadfast, “I cannot release you, for I belong to another; I am a four-footed being, not yours to claim.” Then, turning to Dīrghatamas, who was shrouded in the darkness of ignorance, the bull addressed him directly. “O father, for us cows, there is neither sin nor theft. We do not know what is proper or improper to eat or drink, nor do we discern what should be done or left undone, what should be approached or avoided. O Brahmin, we are not afflicted by sin—this is the law for cows.” Hearing even the very name of cows, Dīrghatamas was shaken. He released his hold, and with humility and reverence, he sought the favor of the cows. Having gained their goodwill, he departed, embracing the dharma of cows with unwavering devotion, fixing his mind upon it and dedicating himself wholly to that path. But fate had more in store. Dīrghatamas, his mind unsettled and confused, began to desire the younger wife of Auttathya, who was herself restless and weeping. Śaradvān, perceiving this arrogance, found it intolerable. Relying on the law of cows as his justification, Dīrghatamas considered his daughter-in-law as equal, disregarding proper conduct. Witnessing this reversal, Śaradvān pondered the situation. Knowing what was to come, the great-souled one did not wish for Dīrghatamas’s death. Yet, his eyes reddened with anger, he rebuked Dīrghatamas, “You do not discern what is proper or improper; yet, invoking the law of cows, you desire your daughter-in-law. You are of bad conduct—I now cast you off. Go your way according to your own actions. Because you are blind, old, and difficult to maintain, you are abandoned; I consider you wicked.” With this harsh judgment, Śaradvān seized Dīrghatamas, placed him in a chest, and cast him into the waters of the Ganges. The current carried the chest for seven days, floating upon the ocean, until Bali, the righteous king and son of Virocana, together with his wife, saw the chest as it began to sink near the current. Bali rescued Dīrghatamas and sheltered him in his palace, nourishing him with food and delicacies. Pleased by the king’s kindness, Dīrghatamas offered Bali a boon. Bali, the bull among the Dānavas, chose the gift of offspring. “O most fortunate one, giver of honor, together with my wife, grant me sons endowed with righteousness and prosperity, for the sake of progeny.” The sage agreed, and Bali sent his wife, Sudeṣṇā, to Dīrghatamas. But Sudeṣṇā, seeing that the sage was blind and old, did not go herself. Instead, she adorned her maidservant of Śūdra birth and sent her in her place. In that maidservant, the self-controlled sage begot two sons, Kakṣīvat and Cakṣuṣ, both of great energy. When Bali saw these sons, he ensured they were properly educated in all rites, and they became masters, learned in the Vedas. They attained perfection, were manifest in righteousness, and excelled in wisdom. Bali declared, “These are mine.” The sage replied, “No,” but Bali insisted. Dīrghatamas explained, “Though born of a Śūdra woman, these two excellent beings are yours in disguise. Thinking me blind and old, your queen Sudeṣṇā, out of disdain, sent her Śūdra maidservant to me.” Realizing the truth, Bali sought to appease the sage again and chastised his wife Sudeṣṇā. This time, adorned and prepared, Sudeṣṇā was sent herself to Dīrghatamas. The sage said to her, “O auspicious one, if you will lick this mixture of curds and salt, as well as this naked thing, without disgust, from foot to head, then you will obtain sons as you desire.” The queen complied with everything as instructed, but when it came to the excrement, she was revolted and avoided it. The sage then told her, “Because you avoided that, you will bear your eldest son without excrement.” Distressed, Sudeṣṇā pleaded, “O blessed one, you should not give me such a son.” The sage replied, “This is your fault, O queen, and it cannot be otherwise. Still, O virtuous lady, I will give you a son now. Without excrement, he will be unfit in some way.” Then Dīrghatamas touched her womb and said, “The curds you have eaten today from my hand, O fair-smiling one, have filled your womb, just as the ocean is filled on the full moon. You will have five sons, equal to the sons of the gods—brilliant, valiant, performers of sacrifice, and righteous.” Thus, from Sudeṣṇā was born Aṅga, her eldest son; from him came Vaṅga, then Kaliṅga, Puṇḍra, and Brahma as well. At that time, these five descendants were born in the lineage of Bali; thus, these sons were formerly given to Dīrghatamas by Bali. Yet, for a certain reason, Brahmā deprived Dīrghatamas’s offspring, so that he would not have children with his own wives. Nevertheless, he produced offspring among human women. Then, Surabhi, the celestial mother of cows, pleased with Dīrghatamas, spoke to him: “Because you have acted according to the law of the cows, having considered it, I am pleased with you and, by that same justice, I release you. Therefore, today I dispel your deep darkness—see now; and whatever other sin of Bārhaspatya remains in your body, I inhale and drive away from you both old age and death.” As soon as Surabhi had inhaled, the darkness was destroyed, and Dīrghatamas immediately regained his sight.