GS. Greetings to you, holy monks.
B. Peace be with thee, and may thy sword ne'er reek with blood.
GS. I draw the sword for my king, for my country and for the restoration of order where enemies or rebels have disturbed it.
B. Thou lookst courageous and thy very words
Possess a ring of simple honesty.
GS. I serve a mighty king who means to do the right. He prefers to establish his rule by treaty and spares an enemy who sues for peace.
B. Thou speakst of Bimbisara, King of Magadha?
GS. Indeed I speak of the great Bimbisara, and he is born to sway the world. My sympathy and my allegiance go with him. I am Siha, his general.
B. Thy name is known throughout the Indian lands.
GS. When I chose my profession I prayed to the gods that they would never let it be my lot to fight for any unjust cause.
B. Let this thy prayer be a sacred vow
Which thou wilt keep inviolate. Our fate,
Or say the gods, create conditions; but thou
Thyself must act. Thou art responsible,
Thou shapest thine own life, and not the gods.