Having answered calls of nature or having walked over a road, one should wash his feet. One should also wash his feet before sitting to recite the Vedas or to eat any food.
कृत्वा मूत्रपुरीषे तु रथ्यामाक्रम्य वा पुनः। पादप्रक्षालनं कुर्यात् स्वाध्याये भोजने तथा॥