churned butter, even though his words bear a sharp-edged razor. It is otherwise in respect of these with the Kshatriya. His words are soft as new-churned butter, but his heart is like a sharp edged tool, such being the case, I am unable, because of the hardness of my heart, to neutralise my curse. Then go thou thy own way. To this Utanka made answer, 'I showed thee the uncleanliness of the food offered to me, and I was even now pacified by thee. Besides, saidst thou at first that because I imputed uncleanliness to food that was clean I slould be without issue. But the food truly unclean, thy curse cannot effect me. Of this I am sure.' And Utanka having said this departed with the ear rings.
"On the road Utanka perceived coming towards him a naked idle beggar sometimes coming in view and sometimes disappearing. And Ucanka put the ear-rings on the ground and went for water. In the meantime the beggar came quickly to the spot and taking up the ear. rings ran away. And Utanka having completed his ablutions in water and purified himself and having also reverently bowed down to the gods and his spiritual masters pursued the chief with the utmost speed. And having with great difficulty overtaken bim, he seized him by force. But at that instant the person seized, quitting the form of a beggar and assuming his real form, viz., that of Takshaka, speedily entered a large hole open in the ground. And having got in, Takshaka proceeded to his own abode, the region of the serpents.
"Now, Utanka, recollecting the words of the Queen, pursued the Serpent, and began to dig open the hole with a stick but was unable to make much progress. And Indra beholding his distress sent his thunderbolt (Vajra) to his assistance. Then the thunder-bolt entering that stick enlarged that hole. And Utanka began to enter the hole after the thunder-bolt. And having entered it, he beheld the region of the serpents infinite in extent, filled with hundres of palaces and elegant mansions with turrets and domes and gate-ways, abounding with wonderful places for various games and entertainments. And Utanka then golrified the serpents by the following slokas :
"Ye Serpents, subjects of King Airavata, splendid in battle and showering weapons in the field like lightning charged clouds driven by the winds! Handsome and of various forms and decked with many coloured ear-rings, ye children of Aitavata, ye shine like the Sun in the firmament ! On the northern banks of the Ganges are many habitations of serpents. There I constantly adore the great serpents. Who except Airavata would desire to move in the burning rays of the Sun? When Dhritarashtra (Airavata's brother) goes out, twenty-eight thousand and eight serpents follow him as his attendants. Ye wbo
