“Gautami replied, ’What good is there in tormenting and killing an enemy, and what good is won by not releasing an enemy in our power?  Therefore, O thou of benign countenance, why should we not forgive this serpent and try to earn merit by releasing it?’

“The fowler replied, ’A great number (of creatures) ought to be protected from (the wickedness of) this one, instead of this single creature being protected (in preference to many).  Virtuous men abandon the vicious (to their doom):  do thou, therefore, kill this wicked creature.’

“Gautami replied, ’By killing this serpent, O fowler, my son will not be restored to life, nor do I see that any other end will be attained by its death:  therefore, do thou, O fowler, release this living creature of a serpent.

“The fowler said, ’By killing Vritra, Indra secured the best portion (of sacrificial offerings), and by destroying a sacrifice Mahadeva secured his share of sacrificial offerings:  do thou, therefore, destroy this serpent immediately without any misgivings in thy mind!’

“Bhishma continued, ’The high-souled Gautami, although repeatedly incited by the fowler for the destruction of the serpent did not bend her mind to that sinful act.  The serpent, painfully bound with the cord:  sighing a little and maintaining its composure with great difficulty, then uttered these words slowly, in a human voice.’

“The serpent said, ’O foolish Arjunaka, what fault is there of mine?  I have no will of my own, and am not independent.  Mrityu sent me on this errand.  By his direction have I bitten this child, and not out of any anger or choice on my part.  Therefore, if there be any sin in this, O fowler, the sin is his.’

“The fowler said, ’If thou hast done this evil, led thereto by another, the sin is thine also as thou art an instrument in the act.  As in the making of an earthen vessel the potter’s wheel and rod and other things are all regarded as causes, so art thou, O serpent, (cause in the production of this effect).  He that is guilty deserves death at my hands.  Thou, O serpent, art guilty.  Indeed, thou confessest thyself so in this matter!’

“The serpent said, ’As all these, viz., the potter’s wheel, rod, and other things, are not independent causes, even so I am not an independent cause.  Therefore, this is no fault of mine, as thou shouldst grant.  Shouldst thou think otherwise, then these are to be considered as causes working in unison with one another.  For thus working with one other, a doubt arises regarding their relation as cause and effect.  Such being the case, it is no fault of mine, nor do I deserve death on this account, nor am I guilty of any sin.  Or, if thou thinkest that there is sin (in even such causation), the sin lies in the aggregate of causes.’

“The fowler said, ’If thou art neither the prime cause nor the agent in this matter, thou art still the cause of the death (of his child).  Therefore, thou dost deserve death in my opinion.  If, O serpent, thou thinkest that when an evil act is done, the doer is not implicated therein, then there can be no cause in this matter; but having done this, verily thou deservest death.  What more dost thou think?’