Meanwhile, yet another tale was in the making. The Ashta Vasus- eight Vasus, led by Dyu stole away the divine cow, Nandini, from the sage Vasishta. When Vasishta saw what had happened with his divine vision he cursed the eight Vasus to be born on Earth as humans. The terrified vasus ran to Vasishta and begged forgiveness. The sage was mollified. He reduced the curse so that seven of the vasus would only live for a very short period on Earth before being freed from their mortal body.

But Dyu, who had actually stolen the cow Nandini, would not be spared. He would live for a very long period on Earth, earn much fame and only then return to heaven. It was Dyu who was born to Shantanu and Ganga as Devavrata Bhishma.  The other seven children of Shantanu (Mahabhisha reborn) who were drowned by Ganga at birth were the seven vasus freed from their curse soon after birth.