Charles Augustus Kincaid

“ 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." ”

“ So go to King Paushya and beg from him the earrings that his queen wears."
Uttanka bowed to the feet of his teacher's wife. And although he knew that King Paushya's palace was many hundred leagues away, he set out on his errand with a brave heart. When he had walked two or three thousand paces he met a giant riding an enormous bull. The giant was many times a man's height and the bull stood as high as the largest war elephant. "Come here, Uttanka," said the giant, "and eat this food." And as the giant spoke he offered some food to the lad. ”

“ As he meditated, he heard the man with the horse say to him, "Mount my horse; it will take you at once to Veda's dwelling." Uttanka mounted the horse. It rose in the air with incredible swiftness, and in a few moments he found himself in front of Veda's hermitage. Veda's wife was bathing and dressing her hair in order that she might fitly feast the Brahmans. "Uttanka," she said to herself, "has failed to bring me the earrings for which I asked. ”