66. 'Thy body, adorned with lustre and loveliness, is in good health, I hope, O health-deserving prince. And so, I hope, is also that other body of thine which is made up of thy righteousness. Does it frequently emit, so to speak, its breath of pious discourses and gifts?
67. 'Thou hast dedicated thyself, hast thou not? to the task of protecting thy subjects, distributing reward or punishment in due time, so as to make both thy illustrious glory and the people's affection, together with their welfare, always increase?
68. 'Hast thou not the assistance of affectionate and honest ministers, averse to fraud and skilled in the management of affairs, with whom to consider the interest of thy subjects? Thy mind is not indifferent to this important matter, I hope?
69. 'When the kings, thy vassals, after incurring abatement of their splendour by thy policy and vigour, entreat thee to show them mercy, thou wilt generously follow the impulse of pity, I hope, without, however, indulging in trustfulness, which is nothing but the sleep of carelessness?
70. 'Are thy actions, tending to secure the unobstructed pursuit of dharma, artha, and kâma, not applauded by the virtuous, O hero among men, and wide-spread in the world, so to say, by the effect of thy renown? And thy enemies have but sighs to hurt them, I hope?'
In reply to these questions the king, manifesting by his gladness the placidity of his senses[158], spoke to him:
71. 'Now my welfare is assured in every respect, O swan, for I have obtained the long wished-for happiness of meeting with your holy persons.
72, 73. 'This man, having captured thee in the snare, did not hurt thee, I hope, in the exuberance of his joy with his pain-inflicting stick? So it happens, in fact, when there arises calamity to birds, that the mind of those knaves, soiled by exulting joy, impels them to sinful actions.'
The Bodhisattva spoke:
74-77. 'I did not suffer, great king, while in that most distressing condition, nor did this man behave towards me at all like an enemy. When he perceived Sumukha staying there, though uncaught, out of love for me, as if he, too, had been caught, he addressed him with great kindness, prompted by curiosity and astonishment. Afterwards, having been propitiated by the gentle words of Sumukha, he released me from the snare, and setting me free, showed respect and honour to me. It is for this reason that Sumukha, wishing this man's good, told him to bring us hither. May then our arrival cause happiness also to him!'