52. 'If for the sake of personal interest honest proceedings may be neglected even with respect to affectionate relations[172], what reason have you to censure me about that ape whom I killed for the sake of his skin, putting into effect the policy taught also in your books? [172] The Pâli recension expresses this by the drastic utterance: 'the would-be wise advocates of the khattavi_gg_â say: you may kill your father or mother or eldest brother, yea your children and wife, if such be your interest.' 53[173]. 'On the other hand, if such a deed is to be blamed for its cruelty, and is certain to have evil consequences, by what means do you resort to a lore which does not acknowledge this? [173] I follow the emendation of the editor mukhena, not the senseless reading of the MSS. sukhena. 54. 'Now, if such is the manifestation of what is called "policy" in your system, say, of what kind may be the error, called "want of policy"? Oh! the audacious who, despising mankind, propound injustice by the way of authoritative law-books! 55. 'Nevertheless, if you maintain that false doctrine--is it not prescribed in the books of your sect in plain terms?--well, it is not I who should be blamed on account of the death of that ape, since I followed the path of that policy which is taught in your books.' In this manner, then, the High-minded One vanquished by a strong assault those ministers in spite of their influence on the bystanders, in spite also of their habitual boldness. And when he understood he had won over the assembly with the king, wishing to expel from their hearts the grief he had caused them by killing the monkey, he addressed the king, saying: 'In fact, Your Majesty, I never killed any living creature[174]. I did but put into effect my power of creation. This skin I stripped off a monkey whom I had created, with the object of using it as the topic of this very conversation. Do not therefore judge me falsely.' So speaking, he dissolved the illusion (of the ape-skin) he had produced by magic. Then, seeing that the king and his assembly were now in apt state of mind to be converted, he said: [174] Vânara_m_ is a gloss, I suppose. 56. 'What person, who perceives that all things produced emanate from causes; who feels himself acting by his free will; who believes in another world after this; who maintains right tenets; who cherishes compassionateness--may kill any living being? 'Do but consider this, great prince. 57. 'How should the believer in the true and rational doctrine commit a deed which, to be sure, neither the denier of causality, nor the believer in absolute dependence, nor the materialist, nor the follower of the lore of political wisdom would perform for the sake of a little glory?