Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
स एवमुक्तो बाढमित्युक्त्वा तदा तद् वृषभस्य मूत्र पुरीषं च भक्षयित्वोत्तड़कः सम्भ्रमादुत्थित एवाप उपस्पृश्य प्रतस्थे,उसके पुनः ऐसा कहनेपर उत्तंकने “बहुत अच्छा” कहकर उसकी बात मान ली और उस बैलके गोबर तथा मूत्रको खा-पीकर उतावलीके कारण खड़े-खड़े ही आचमन किया। फिर वे चल दिये
sa evam ukto bāḍham ity uktvā tadā tad vṛṣabhasya mūtra-purīṣaṃ ca bhakṣayitvottakaḥ sambhramād utthita evāpa upaspṛśya pratasthē |
Thus addressed, Uttanka replied, “Very well,” and complied. He then consumed the bull’s urine and dung; and, being in haste, he performed ācamana (ritual sipping of water) while still standing, and set out on his way. The episode underscores the tension between outward impurity and inner obedience to a higher instruction, where a difficult act is undertaken for the sake of a vowed duty and the larger moral purpose of the quest.
राम उवाच