“King Paushya replied, ’Go, Utanka, into the female apartments where the Queen is and demand them of her.’  And Utanka went into the women’s apartments.  But as he could not discover the Queen, he again addressed the king, saying, ’It is not proper that I should be treated by thee with deceit.  Thy Queen is not in the private apartments, for I could not find her.’  The king thus addressed, considered for a while and replied, ’Recollect, Sir, with attention whether thou art not in a state of defilement in consequence of contact with the impurities of a repast.  My Queen is a chaste wife and cannot be seen by any one who is impure owing to contact with the leavings of a repast.  Nor doth she herself appear in sight of any one who is defiled.’

“Utanka, thus informed, reflected for a while and then said, ’Yes, it must be so.  Having been in a hurry I performed my ablutions (after meal) in a standing posture.’  King Paushya then said, ’Here is a transgression, purification is not properly effected by one in a standing posture, not by one while he is going along.’  And Utanka having agreed to this, sat down with his face towards the east, and washed his face, hands, and feet thoroughly.  And he then, without a noise, sipped thrice of water free from scum and froth, and not warm, and just sufficient to reach his stomach and wiped his face twice.  And he then touched with water the apertures of his organs (eyes, ears, etc.).  And having done all this, he once more entered the apartments of the women.  And this time he saw the Queen.  And as the Queen perceived him, she saluted him respectfully and said, ‘Welcome, Sir, command me what I have to do.’  And Utanka said unto her, ’It behoveth thee to give me those ear-rings of thine.  I beg them as a present for my preceptor.’  And the Queen having been highly pleased with Utanka’s conduct and, considering that Utanka as an object of charity could not be passed over, took off her ear-rings and gave them to him.  And she said, ’These ear-rings are very much sought after by Takshaka, the King of the serpents.  Therefore shouldst thou carry them with the greatest care.’

“And Utanka being told this, said unto the Queen, ’Lady, be under no apprehension.  Takshaka, Chief of the serpents, is not able to overtake me.’  And having said this, and taking leave of the Queen, he went back into the presence of Paushya, and said, ‘Paushya, I am gratified.’  Then Paushya said to Utanka, ’A fit object of charity can only be had at long intervals.  Thou art a qualified guest, therefore do I desire to perform a sraddha.  Tarry thou a little.  And Utanka replied, ’Yes, I will tarry, and beg that the clean provisions that are ready may be soon brought in.’  And the king having signified his assent, entertained Utanka duly.  And Utanka seeing that the food placed before him had hair in it, and also that it was cold, thought it unclean.  And he said unto Paushya, ’Thou givest me food that is unclean, therefore shalt thou lose thy sight.’  And Paushya in answer said, ’And because dost thou impute uncleanliness to food that is clean, therefore shalt thou be without issue.’  And Utanka thereupon rejoined, ’It behoveth thee not, after having offered me unclean food, to curse me in return.  Satisfy thyself by ocular proof.’