Page:Tales from the Indian Epics.djvu/23

Rh at their beauty. For they were heavy with pearls and rubies. And huge diamonds and sapphires and emeralds blazed back silver and blue and green in the sunlight that streamed through the window. As he gazed at them, the queen said, "Yes, fair youth, they are very beautiful. But be careful. For Takshaka, one of the princes of the snake people, desires them and will attempt to rob you of them."

"Noble Queen," said Uttanka proudly, "have no fear. For Takshaka, snake prince though he be, could never overcome me."

Uttanka left the queen's room and went back to the king. "My Lord, King Paushya," he said, "you have treated me most courteously, and I am very grateful to you. Be so good, therefore, as to accept a Brahman's thanks. For there is nothing else that I can give you."

"Fair youth," said King Paushya, "a Brahman's thanks are reward enough. But do not hasten away. I am about to sacrifice to my father's spirit. Stay and eat with me in honour of the dead."

Uttanka gladly accepted the invitation, and King Paushya and he sat down together to eat. But the food that was placed before Uttanka was cold and had been cooked by a woman with unbraided hair. One of her hairs had fallen into it and had thus made the food unclean. Uttanka was stung by the insult. "King Paushya," he said angrily, "because you have given me unclean food, you shall lose your sight." On hearing the curse. King Paushya grew as angry as Uttanka. "Brahman youth," he cried, "you have called food that is clean unclean. You will therefore never have a son born to you."