A Chandravanshi king.

Antecedents: Vishnu – Brahma – Atri – Chandra – Budha – Pururavas – Ayus – Nahusha – Srinjaya – Titiksha – Kushadhrita – Homa – Sutapas – Bali – Anga.

Bali, son of Sutapas, had seven sons with Suteshna – Anga, Kalinga, Suhva, Pudara, Vanga, Adrupa.

Once, there was a sage named Utadhya, who was the elder brother of Brihaspati. When Utadhya’s wife Mamta was pregnant, Brihaspati approached her with carnal desires. She tried to stop his advances, but Brihaspati raped her. The half born child inside resisted him too and even kicked Brihaspati’s semen out of his mother’s womb. An enraged Brihaspati cursed him into eternal darkness – Deerkhatamas. Thus the child was born blind. He married Pradveshi and Gautama was born to them. Mother and son had to find means to feed Deerkhatamas. When they could no longer carry on, they placed Deerkhatamas on a log and pushed it into the Ganga. Bali, who was bathing in the river, found the sage and took him to his palace. Bali tended to the sage and expressed the desire that he should impregnate his queen Sudeshna. But Sudeshna was unwilling, and sent a shudra woman Dhatreyi to Deerkhatamas. Dhatreyi had 11 children including Kakshivan. In time, Deerkhatamas learned of Sudeshna’s deception. Bali managed to placate the angry sage and Sudeshna had five children with him – Anga, Kalinga, Vanga, Pundra, Suhma. The sage blessed that they would be prosperous,a nd their kingdoms came to be known as Anga, Kalinga, Vanga, Paundra and Suhma respectively. According to the Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 104, they comprise the Balivansh.

Once Anga conductred an Ashwamedha, but the devas did not appear to accept the offerings. Anga was told by sages that they did not arrive because he was childless. Immediately Anga conducted a Putrakameshti. From the sacrificial fire rose a celestial being, who gave him a liquid in a golden vessel. Both Anga and his wife Sunidha consumed it, and a son – Vena, was born to them. Vena was a cruel being and in the end, Anga, saddened by his son’s behaviour, left the kingdom for a pilgrimage. According to Bhagavata Chaturthaskanda Chapter 13, 14, the people were forced to accept Vena as king, and he ruled as a cruel king for several years.