Finally, Vishnu appeared before the king. “Your prayers have pleased me,” said Vishnu. “What boon do you want?”
“I wish to have a powerful and righteous son.” Replied Anga.

“It shall be as you wish,” said Vishnu. “Find a righteous woman and marry her. Your son will bring glory to the line of Atri.”

Meanwhile, Sunitha had gone and told her father about Sushankha’s curse and Yama had been scandalised. He had realised that Suntiha had done a most improper thing by pestering the gandharva. He advised Sunitha to perform tapasya in the forest. The effects of the curse might be mitigated as a result of these meditations. There was also the fact that no one wished to marry Suntitha. Everyone had got to know about Sushankha’s curse, and who was going to marry a woman who would give birth to an evil son?

But Sunitha had some friends. These friends taught her the art of charming men. They also knew that Anga had received a boon from Vishnu that he would have a righteous and powerful son. They figured that Vishnu’s boon would more than compensate for Sushankha’s curse, provided that Anga could be persuaded to marry Sunitha.

Sunitha set about her task of charming Anga. She was so successful that Anga fell in love with her and the two married. Their son was Vena.

Vena

Vena became learned in the shastras and in the art of warfare. He was righteous and observed all the religious ceremonies. His mother, Sunitha, still remembered Sushankha’s curse and did her best to instruct Vena in the duties of righteous living. She was bent upon ensuring that Vena did not become evil.

Vena became king after Anga and ruled well. His subjects prospered.

The sages had been hearing this story from Lomaharshana and they protested. “What happened to Sushankha’s curse?” they asked. “Besides, we have always heard that Vena was evil.”

“I was coming to that,” replied Lomaharshana.

(Vena is mentioned in the other Puranas as well, and invariably, is depcited as evil. The question of his having been initially good does not crop up. Nor is Sushankha’s curse mentioned. It is merely mentioned that Vena associated too much with his maternal grandfather Mrityu. Mrityu was evil and Vena picked up evil ways from his grandfather. In the other Puranas, Mrityu is not identified with Yama.)
A religious teacher once came to visit Vena. The teacher was completely naked and his head was shaven. In his hands he held a broom made of peacock feathers and a cup made out of coconut shell.

“Who are you?” asked Vena. “What religion do you follow?”