Being so addressed for his good in very harsh terms by those dignitaries, who moved by affection and love spoke frankly, foreseeing the calamities to be expected from bad policy, the king was ashamed of the wrath of the chiefs of his people, and with downcast eyes, overwhelmed by the sorrowful thought of a separation from his son, he heaved a deep, woeful sigh, and said to the _S_ibis: 'If this is your peremptory decision, allow him, at least, the delay of one day and night. Tomorrow at day-break Vi_s_vantara shall accomplish your desire.' This answer satisfied the _S_ibis. Then the king said to his chamberlain: 'Go and tell Vi_s_vantara what has happened.' The chamberlain said he would do so, and, his face bathed in tears, went to Vi_s_vantara, who was at that moment in his own palace. Overwhelmed by his sorrow, he threw himself at the feet of the prince, weeping aloud. Then Vi_s_vantara anxiously inquired after the health of the royal family; the other said in a voice rather indistinct by affliction: 'O, the royal family is well.' 'But why are you thus excited, then?' Vi_s_vantara replied. Being so asked once more, the chamberlain whose throat was choked with tears, uttered slowly and in a faltering tone these words, interrupting and disturbing them by his sobs: 21. 'Brusquely disregarding the royal command, though it was declared to them in gentle terms, the _S_ibis, moved by anger, order you to be banished from the kingdom, my prince.' Vi_s_vantara said: 'Me ... the _S_ibis ... order to be banished, moved by anger! What you say is out of all reason. 22. 'Never did I take delight in leaving the path of discipline, and I detest carelessness about my duties. What evil action of mine, unknown to me, makes the _S_ibis angry with me?' The chamberlain said: 'They are offended at your exceeding loftiness of mind. 23, 24. 'Your satisfaction was pure by the disinterested feeling you experienced, but that of those mendicants was troubled by cupidity. When you gave away that foremost of elephants, O most noble prince, wrath put the _S_ibis out of patience and caused them to transgress the limits of their duty. They are furious against you. You must go, indeed, the way of those who live as ascetics.' At this moment the Bodhisattva displayed both his deeply-rooted affection for the mendicants which his continuous practice of compassion had firmly established, and his grand, immense patience. He said: 'The nature of the _S_ibis is fickle, and they cannot understand mine, it seems. 25. 'The objects of sense being outside of ourselves, it is superfluous to say that I would give away my eyes or my head[84]. For the benefit of the creatures I support this body, how much more the possession of clothes and vehicles.