Then Vasishta turned to the second queen and asked, "What are
you quarrelling about?" She replied, "Why should I be just a
cook-woman?" The rishi thought for a while and said, "Lady, in a
former life you were the wife of a poor Brahman, and you used to beg
your food from door to door. But every Monday you used to fast, and
whatever grain you begged that day you used to cook and offer to the
god Shiva. And he was pleased with your devotion. Therefore in this
life he made you one of the queens of Atpat. And because you cooked
for the god Shiva, he directed the king to put you in charge of his
kitchen. Therefore, obey the god's directions and give a great feast
to all in Atpat. In this way you will gain the favour of Shiva, and he
will take you with him to Kailas." Then he blessed the second queen,
and she prostrated herself and went off quite cheerfully to cook the
king's dinner.

The sage next turned to the third queen and asked, "What are you
quarrelling about?" The queen answered, "Why should I do nothing but
fiddle about the nursery?" Vasishta thought for a while and said,
"In a former life, O Queen, you were a maid of a jungle tribe. Every
Monday you used to fast yourself and offer the choicest fruits that
you picked to the god Shiva. In return for them he has made you a
queen, and he has entrusted the king's children to you. Therefore
look after them and be kind to them, and in the end he will take you
to live with him in Kailas." The rishi then blessed the third queen,
and she prostrated herself before him. Then she ran off, her face
all smiles, to play with the king's children.

Vasishta last of all turned to the fourth queen and said, "What are
you quarrelling about?" She answered, "Why should I do nothing but
look after the king's clothes?" The rishi said, "In a former life,