In the ancient wisdom of the world, it is taught that one who neglects his sacred duties for a year becomes impure, and the virtuous are advised to avoid all contact with such a person. Even touching a woman or her garments is said to cause impurity, and there is no purification for one who acts sinfully, O wise one. If the deities, sages, ancestors, and spirits leave a person’s house without being honored, that person cannot be considered virtuous in this world. Furthermore, if a person’s body and home are defiled by the breath of the gods and others, he should not mingle with household utensils and furniture. Even simple acts such as conversation, showing deference, or laughing with such a person will render a Brahmin his equal for a whole year. Eating in his house, sitting with him, or sharing his bed brings immediate equality in impurity. Eating without first honoring the deities, ancestors, spirits, and guests is a sinful act, and what expiation is there for one who does so? Among Brahmins and others, those who forsake their own duties and engage in inferior actions are considered impure. Where there is complete mixing of the four castes, O Maitreya, it brings harm to those who strive for virtue. One who eats without honoring sages, gods, ancestors, spirits, and guests falls into hell, and those who converse with such a person share his fate. Therefore, the wise should always shun impure people who have abandoned the threefold Vedic path, avoiding them in conversation, touch, and all dealings. Even when offerings are made by the faithful to fathers and grandfathers, those rites do not please the ancestors if witnessed by the impure. Long ago, there lived a renowned king named Shatadhanu on earth. His wife, Shaivya, was deeply devoted to the sacred duties of hospitality. She was a devoted wife, greatly fortunate, truthful, pure, and compassionate, adorned with all marks of excellence, humility, and good conduct. Together, the king and his virtuous queen worshipped Janardana, Lord of the gods, with supreme concentration—through offerings, recitations, gifts, fasting, and unwavering devotion. Day and night, the king’s mind was absorbed in worship, never distracted elsewhere. Once, during the sacred month of Kartika, the couple bathed together in the holy river Bhagirathi while observing a fast. As they emerged from the river, they saw a heretic approaching. This man was a friend of the king and a disciple of the bow-master, and out of respect, the king conversed with him. But Shaivya, steadfast in her vow, did not speak; she had fasted and gazed upon the sun. After this encounter, the couple performed all the prescribed worship and rites for Vishnu. In the course of time, King Sapatrajit (Shatadhanu) died, and his faithful queen ascended the funeral pyre with her husband. Yet, because the fasting king had conversed with the heretic at the holy place, he was reborn as a dog. Shaivya, the virtuous daughter of the king of Kashi, was reborn too, retaining the memory of her past life, endowed with all knowledge and honored for her auspicious qualities. When her father wished to give her in marriage, she restrained him, choosing by her own will not to proceed. With her divine sight, she saw that her former husband had taken birth as a dog in the city of Vidiśā. She journeyed there and, seeing her husband in that state, offered him excellent food with honor and reverence. He ate the delicious food she provided, behaving as a dog would, and uttered many flattering words. Embarrassed by his flattery, the young woman bowed respectfully and addressed her beloved, now of low birth: “Remember, O great king, your gentle conduct, by which you entered the dog’s womb and now flatter me. After speaking with the heretic and bathing at the holy place, you attained this degraded birth. Do you not recall that, O lord?” Reminded thus of his past life, the king reflected for a long time and developed rare dispassion. Filled with despair, he left the city, cast himself down in the desert, and was born again in the womb of a jackal. After two years had passed, Shaivya, perceiving this with her divine vision, recognized him in his new form and went to the mountain called Kolahala to see him. There, seeing her husband as a jackal, the beautiful daughter of the king addressed him: “O king, do you remember what I once told you, when you were born as a dog—your former deeds and your association with heretical speech?” Again reminded by her words, he realized the truth. After some time, he gave up food and abandoned his body. He was then born as a wolf. Shaivya, ever faithful and faultless, went to that lonely forest and reminded her husband once more of his previous deeds: “O fortunate one, you are not a wolf; you are King Shatadhanu. Having been a dog, you became a jackal, and now you have attained the state of a wolf.” Thus reminded, he abandoned that body too, and his soul entered the form of a vulture. Once again, Shaivya, guided by destiny, instructed him, steadfast in her devotion and knowledge of the truth.