And now the kings addressed the Brahman thus:  “You have chosen a fitting time for giving increase to the seed of wisdom:  the essence of true friendship is the utterance of truth.  The greatest force of reason lies in righteous judgment.  But now in turn hear what we say:  The rules of kings are framed to avoid the use of force when hatred has arisen from low desires, or else to avoid the sudden use of violence in trifling questions where some trifling matter is at stake.  But we for the sake of law are about to fight.  What wonder is it!  Swollen pride is a principle to be opposed, for it leads to the overthrow of society; no wonder then that Buddha preached against it, teaching men to practise lowliness and humility.  Then why should we be forbidden to pay our reverence to his body-relics?  In ancient days a lord of the great earth, Pih-shih-tsung and Nanda, for the sake of a beautiful woman fought and destroyed each other; how much more now, for the sake of religious reverence to our master, freed from passion, gone to Nirvana, without regard to self, or careful of our lives, should we contend and assert our rights!  A former king, Kaurava, fought with a Pandava king, and the more they increased in strength the more they struggled, all for some temporary gain; how much more for our not-coveting master should we contend, coveting to get his living relics?  The son of Rama, too, the Rishi, angry with King Dasa-ratha, destroyed his country, slew the people, because of the rage he felt; how much less for our master, freed from anger, should we be niggard of our lives!  Rama, for Sita’s sake, killed all the demon-spirits; how much more for our lord, heaven-received, should we not sacrifice our lives!  The two demons A-lai and Po-ku were ever drawn into contention; in the first place, because of their folly and ignorance, causing wide ruin among men; how much less for our all-wise master should we begrudge our lives!  Wherefore if from these examples we find others ready to die for no real principle, how shall we for our teacher of gods (Devas) and men, reverenced by the universe, spare our bodies or begrudge our lives, and not be earnest in desire to make our offerings!  Now then, if you desire to stay the strife, go and for us demand within the city that they open wide the relics, and so cause our prayer to be fulfilled.  But because your words are right ones, we hold our anger for a while; even as the great, angry snake, by the power of charms is quieted.”

And now the Brahman, having received the kings’ instruction, entering the city, went to the Mallas, and saluting them, spoke these true words:  “Without the city those who are kings among men grasp with their hands their martial weapons, and with their bodies clad in weighty armor wait eagerly to fight; glorious as the sun’s rays, bristling with rage as the roused lion.  These united are, to overthrow this city.  But whilst they wage this religious war, they fear lest they may act irreligiously, and so