On hearing this, the king, who loved his son, was not very kindly disposed towards them; but submitting to necessity, he told them hastily, they were right; after which he tried to appease the _S_ibis. 'I know,' he said, 'that Vi_s_vantara indulges in his disproportionate passion for charity so as to neglect for it the rules of political wisdom, which behaviour is not suitable for a person appointed to the royal charge. But as he has resigned his own elephant, as if it were phlegm, who will bring back that animal? Nevertheless, I shall take such measures that Vi_s_vantara will know a limit in his almsgiving. This may suffice to appease your anger.' The _S_ibis answered: 'No, Your Majesty, this will not do. Vi_s_vantara is no person to be brought to reason in this matter by a simple censure.' Sa_mg_aya spoke: 'But what else can I do? 16. 'He is averse to sinful actions, only his attachment to virtuous practices is turning into a kind of passion. Why, should you then deem imprisonment or death inflicted on my own son to be the due requital for that elephant? 'Therefore, desist from your wrath! Henceforward I will prevent Vi_s_vantara from such actions.' Notwithstanding this, the _S_ibis persisted in their anger and said: 17, 18. 'Who would be pleased, O king, with the pain of death, or prison, or flogging pronounced upon your son? But being devoted to his religious duties, Vi_s_vantara is not fit to be a bearer of the troublesome burden of royalty, because of his tenderness of heart and his compassion. Let the throne be occupied by such princes, as have obtained renown for their martial qualities and are skilled in the art of giving its due to each of the three members of the trivarga; but your son, who in consequence of his love of Righteousness (dharma), does not heed Policy (naya), is a proper person to dwell in a penance-grove. 19. 'Surely, if princes commit faults of bad policy, the results of those faults fall on their subjects[83]. They are however bearable for them, after all, as is taught by experience; not so for the kings themselves, the very roots of whose power they undermine. [83] This Indian parallel to the Horatian verse quidquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi, runs thus in the original: phalanti kâma_m_ vasudhâdipânâ_m_ durnîtidoshâs tadupâ_s_riteshu. 20. 'Why, then, here say much? Not capable of conniving at a state of things which must lead to your ruin, the _S_ibis have taken this resolution. The royal prince must withdraw to Mount Vaṅka, the residence of the Siddhas; there he may exert his penance.'