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"Go to him and ask this question - Would a Truthfinder say anything which would be displeasing and disagreeable to others? If he says yes, ask him how then he differs from the ordinary man - who does say what is displeasing and disagreeable to others. But if he says no, then you ask him how did he declare Deyadatta to be a reprobate, a child of perdition, doomed to purgatory for ages and beyond all hope of redemption - words which angered and upset Dayadatta. This two-edged question which you will put to him is more that he will be able either to spew out or to swallow down......"
The Prince invited the Lord with three others to a meal next day which the latter accepted by his usual silence. The meal over, the Prince started the discussion. To this, the Lord replied, "Prince! There can be no absolute answer to this ".
On this the Prince narrated the background, whereupon the Lord said,
"Prince! The Truth-finder never says anything which he knows to be false, untrue and unprofitable, and also displeasing and disagreeable to others; never says anything which he knows to be a fact and true, but unprofitable, and also displeasing and dis agreeable to others; but should it be a fact and true and profitable, but also displeasing and disagreeable to others, then the Truth-finder knows the due reason to state it. He never says anything which he knows to be false, untrue and unprofitable, albeit pleasing and agreeable to others to hear; never says anything which he knows to be a fact and true but unprofitable, albeit pleasing and agreeable to others to hear; but if it be a fact and true and profitable, while pleasing and agreeable to others to hear, then the Truth-finder knows due reason when to state and why - out of pity for creatures".
To a further question by the Prince, viz., when people came to the Truth-finder with their questions, did he reflect what their question would be and what his answer would be or did his answer came off-hand without reflection
