Having received his teacher’s wife’s command, Uttanka set out at once on his journey.
As he traveled along the road, he encountered a strange and astonishing sight. Before him stood an enormous bull, far larger than any ordinary beast. Upon its back sat a gigantic man whose size matched that of the mighty animal.
The man looked at Uttanka and called out:
“Uttanka! Eat the dung of this bull.”
Uttanka was taken aback by the command and refused.
But the man spoke again.
“Eat it, Uttanka. Do not hesitate. Your own teacher has eaten it before.”
Hearing these words, Uttanka reflected for a moment. Trusting the mysterious stranger and remembering his teacher’s greatness, he finally agreed.
“So be it,” he said.
He then ate the bull’s dung and drank its urine. Having done so, he continued on his journey toward the kingdom of King Pauṣya.
After some time, he arrived at the royal court and found the king seated upon his throne.
Approaching respectfully, Uttanka offered his blessings and said:
“O King, I have come before you as a petitioner.”
The king greeted him with honor and replied:
“Revered Brahmana, I am Pauṣya. Tell me, what may I do for you?”
Uttanka answered:
“I have come on behalf of my teacher. I seek the pair of earrings worn by your queen, which I must present as my teacher’s gift. Therefore, O King, I ask that they be given to me.”
King Pauṣya nodded.
“Go into the inner chambers of the palace,” he said, “and ask the queen yourself.”
Uttanka followed the king’s instructions and entered the royal apartments.
Yet when he looked around, he could not see the queen anywhere.
He searched carefully through the inner chambers, but no trace of her appeared before his eyes.
Perplexed and wondering what had happened, Uttanka prepared to return and inform the king that the queen was nowhere to be found.
Unable to find the queen anywhere within the inner chambers, Uttanka returned to King Pauṣya and said:
“It is not fitting for a king to speak falsely to a Brahmana. Your queen is not in the palace chambers. I searched for her but could not see her.”
Pauṣya reflected for a moment and then replied:
“You must still be impure. Think carefully. My queen cannot be seen by one who is defiled by leftover food or ritual impurity. Because of her perfect fidelity and virtue, she does not appear before those who are unclean.”
Uttanka paused and considered the king’s words.
Then he remembered.
“Yes,” he said. “That must be the reason. While traveling in haste, I performed my purification rites improperly.”
Pauṣya nodded.
“Exactly so. Purification is not properly performed while walking or standing. The rites must be carried out according to the prescribed rules.”
Realizing his mistake, Uttanka immediately set about purifying himself correctly.
Facing east, he sat down upon the ground. He carefully washed his hands, feet, and face. In silence, he sipped clean water three times according to the sacred rite. Then he rinsed himself again, cleansed his senses and limbs, and completed every detail of the prescribed purification.
Only then did he return to the inner apartments.
This time, the queen appeared before him.
The moment she saw Uttanka, she rose respectfully from her seat, greeted him with honor, and said:
“Welcome, revered one. Tell me how I may serve you.”
Uttanka replied directly:
“I have come to ask for your earrings. They are required as the gift I must present to my teacher.”
The queen was pleased by his honesty and straightforward manner. Recognizing him as a worthy and noble Brahmana, she felt that such a request should not be refused.
Without hesitation, she removed the jeweled earrings from her ears and placed them in his hands.
Then she spoke a word of warning.
“These earrings are greatly desired by Takshaka, the king of the Nagas. Be vigilant while carrying them. Guard them carefully.”
But Uttanka answered with confidence:
“Lady, be at peace. Takshaka, king of the Nagas, has no power to overcome me.”
Having received the precious earrings and the queen’s blessing, Uttanka prepared to depart, unaware that the warning about Takshaka would soon prove far more serious than he imagined.
After receiving the queen’s earrings, Uttanka took his leave and returned to King Pauṣya.
“O King,” he said, “I am well pleased.”
Pauṣya replied warmly:
“Revered sir, it is rare to receive such a worthy guest. You are a man of virtue, and after a long time I have found someone deserving of proper hospitality. Therefore, I wish to honor you with a sacred meal. Please remain here for a short while.”
Uttanka agreed.
“I shall stay,” he said, “but only briefly. I am in haste. Therefore, bring me whatever food is already prepared.”
Pauṣya immediately ordered that food be served, and whatever was available at the time was brought before the sage.
When Uttanka examined the meal, however, he noticed that it was cold. Worse still, a strand of hair lay among the food.
His face darkened.
“This food is impure,” he declared. “Because you have offered unclean food to a Brahmana guest, you shall become blind.”
The king was angered by the accusation and replied in kind:
“If you condemn food that is not truly impure, then you shall be cursed to remain without offspring.”
The exchange cast a shadow over the court.
Determined to learn the truth, Pauṣya carefully investigated the matter. Soon the cause became clear. The meal had indeed been served by a woman whose hair was loose and unbound, and one of those hairs had fallen into the food. Moreover, the food had become cold before it reached the guest.
Realizing that Uttanka’s complaint was justified, Pauṣya immediately sought reconciliation.
“Revered sir,” he said humbly, “the fault was committed unknowingly. The food was indeed cold, and a hair had fallen into it. I beg your forgiveness. Please do not let your curse destroy my sight.”
Uttanka’s anger subsided.
“I do not speak falsely,” he replied. “Therefore my words cannot be withdrawn. You shall indeed become blind. However, your blindness will last only for a short time, and afterward your sight will be restored.”
Then he added:
“As for the curse you pronounced upon me, let it not take effect.”
Thus the king and the sage stood facing one another, both bound by the power of their spoken words, yet seeking a path toward reconciliation through truth and mutual respect.