Free KRISHNA CORIOLIS#6: Fortress of Dwarka by Ashok K. Banker Page A

wife to me, she cannot be seen by anyone who is not immaculately clean.  
    Somehow, you must have consumed leftover food or in some way rendered yourself unclean. Think and try to remember.’ Uttanka thought back and realized the king spoke the truth. ‘Indeed, it is as you say. As I was in a hurry to come here and reach back to the guru’s house before the ceremony, I performed my ablutions on the road, while walking.’ Paushya nodded. ‘That would explain why you did not see the queen. Ablutions must always be performed while sitting, never while standing or walking.’  
    Uttanka saw the wisdom of the kshatriya’s words and performed his ablutions again. He sat facing the east, then first washed his hands, face and feet thoroughly and without making haste. Then, maintaining absolute silence, he sipped just enough clean water, ensuring it was completely free of scum or froth, in precisely the right amount that was required to reach his heart. Then he washed twice and cleansed his orifices with water.  
    Only when he had duly completed these ablutions to perfection did he rise once more and enter the queen’s inner apartments. At once, he saw the queen, seated where she had always been, now made visible to his senses.  
    At the sight of Uttanka, the queen rose and greeted him appropriately with respect befitting an acolyte of her husband’s guru. ‘Great one, command me. What can I do for you?’ Uttanka said to her gently, ‘Good queen, I ask that you give me the earrings that you are wearing. I wish to give them as guru-dakshina.’  
    Without hesitation, the queen removed her earrings and proffered them to him gladly. But as she gave them she cautioned him in a whisper: ‘Good man, know this. Takshak, Lord of Nagas, dearly desires these earrings. He would do anything to possess them. Carry them carefully.’  
    Uttanka thanked her for the earrings and for her warning and assured her, ‘Shrimati, do not fear. This is my guru-dakshina. Even Takshak, King of Snakes, cannot take them from me now!’
    He bid the queen farewell and returned to Paushya. The king asked him if he was satisfied now and Uttanka replied, ‘Oh yes, raje, I am very pleased. I shall now take your leave.’  
    Pausha bade him wait, saying, ‘Great one, you are clearly a person of great learning and note. I have been waiting to perform an important shraddha. By your grace, we may now perform it before you leave.’  
    Uttanka was reluctant but felt obligated to the king for his gracious treatment and generous gift. ‘Very well, raje. I shall stay a short while. But I ask that rather than prepare special food which will take a great deal of time, let us consume whatever food is already prepared.’ The king agreed and sent for food for Uttanka at once.  
    When the food arrived and was served to Uttanka, he was upset to see that it was brought cold and there was a hair in the food. Angered by this extremely rude slight, he threatened Paushya: ‘You dare offer unclean and cold food to a guest? I shall curse you with blindness!’  
    Paushya reacted equally sharply: ‘In that case, since you wrongly accuse me and spoil food that was unspoiled, you shall lose the ability to have offspring!’ B
    ut as the host, Paushya felt obliged to investigate his guest’s complaint. On examining the food closely, he found that it did indeed contain a hair and was quite cold; he enquired further and learned that this was because the food had been prepared by a woman who was careless and had not braided her hair.  
    Apologizing for this grave lapse in his hospitality, he joined his palms before Uttanka and said in a contrite tone: ‘Great one, the fault was entirely my own. You spoke truly. The food served to you was indeed cold and unclean. Please forgive me for this error. Please do not curse me with blindness.’  
    Uttanka sighed and shook his head regretfully: ‘What I pronounced shall surely come to pass. You will go blind but I shall