Approaching [Pauṣya], Uttanka saw him seated. Drawing near, he honored him with blessings and said: ‘I have come to you with a request.’ He, bowing, replied: ‘Sir, I am indeed Pauṣya; what shall I do?’ Uttanka said to him: ‘I have come for earrings for [a gift to] my teacher; the earrings your queen wears, be so good as to give them.’ Pauṣya answered him: ‘Go in to the inner chambers and ask the queen [herself].’ Thus addressed, [Uttanka] entered the inner chambers but did not see the queen. He said to Pauṣya again: ‘It is not right for you to deceive me: your queen is not present in the inner chambers, I do not see her.’ Pauṣya answered him: ‘You are surely impure now [after eating] — recall. For this queen cannot be seen by one impure or unclean: being devoted to her husband (pativratā), she does not appear to the sight of the impure.’ Then Uttanka, recollecting, said: ‘Indeed, hastening on my way, I touched [food] while impure.’ Pauṣya answered him: ‘That is it: for impurity arises in one who [performs the rinsing rite] while walking or standing, [rather than as is proper].’ Then Uttanka, saying ‘very well’, sat facing east, carefully washed his hands, feet, and face, performed achamana with silent water pleasing to the heart, sipping thrice and wiping [his lips] twice, touched water to [his eyes and other] openings, entered the inner chambers, and saw that queen. And she, the moment she saw Uttanka, rose, bowed, and said: ‘Welcome, sir; command me, what shall I do?’ He said to her: ‘These earrings, begged by me for [a gift to] my teacher, be so good as to give.’ She, pleased by his sincerity and thinking, ‘He is worthy [to receive the gift], and [his request] is not to be refused,’ removed the earrings and gave them to him. And she said: ‘These earrings Takshaka, king of serpents, covets; carry them watchfully.’ Thus addressed, [Uttanka] answered the queen: ‘My lady, be at ease: Takshaka, king of serpents, will not be able to overpower me.’