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INITIATION, AND OMNISCIENCE OF SRI PĀRSVA 387 everything to your master."
Again the messenger said: "The lord sent me to enlighten you from compassion, not from weakness, evil-minded man. As the lord wishes to protect the King of Kuśasthala, likewise he does not wish to kill you, if you obey his command, sir! Breaking the master's command, unbroken even in heaven, you die yourself, like a stupid moth touching a bright fire. On the one hand, a fire-fly; on the other, a sun lighting up the whole universe. On the one hand, you are a mere king; on the other, Pārśva, the lord of three worlds."
Yavana's soldiers, their weapons raised, rose up angrily and said defiantly to the messenger saying this: "Is there some hostility of yours toward your own master that you make this threat, villain? You are well-skilled in stratagem, wretch!" While they were talking in this way and wishing to kill him from anger, an old minister said in contemptuous and harsh words: "He is not an enemy of his master, but you are an enemy (of yours) who thus cause injury to your lord from your own desire. To cross the command of Pārsvanatha, lord of the universe, is not for your welfare, fools, to say nothing of killing his messenger. The master is thrown at once into a thicket of evil by such servants like untamed horses that have dragged him along. Messengers of other kings have been attacked before by you. In those cases it turned out well for you, for our lord was stronger than they. What is this quarrel of our lord, caused by badly-behaved worms of men, with one of whom the sixty-four Indras are servants!"
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All the soldiers, reprimanded in this way, terrified, became quiet. Taking the messenger by the hand, the minister spoke with conciliation. What these men, who make their living by arms alone, said to you from ignorance, you must pardon. You are a wise servant, ocean of tolerance. We shall follow you ourselves to take the honored Pārśva's commands on our head. Do not tell such a thing to your lord." After informing the messenger to this effect and entertaining him, he dismissed him.
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