As the discussion unfolded, the wise one gently addressed the king, saying, “Even that which you have stated is not the ultimate truth; but please, sir, listen closely to my words. Consider this: the thighs, the two shanks, and the abdomen are the true supports; it is these parts that bear the weight. This palanquin rests upon the shoulders—so what part do I, as its bearer, truly play in this?” He continued, “If you insist that both you and I are present here in the same way, then the matter must be understood differently. Indeed, all beings, swept along in the current of qualities, proceed in a similar fashion. Due to ignorance and the accumulation of actions, countless creatures become bound in this cycle. Yet, the increase and decrease of their experiences do not occur identically for all.” The wise one then addressed the king’s earlier words, saying, “Still, your reasoning is childish; by what logic have you spoken so? When this palanquin rests upon your shoulder, then the burden is entirely yours. Whether the palanquin is made from a mountain, a tree, a house, or even if it has arisen from the earth itself—tell me, O king, which great burden among these have I not borne? It is you who have increased all this for me equally.” Hearing these words, the king was moved. He quickly descended from the palanquin and, with humility, grasped the wise one’s feet. “Tell me,” the king implored, “who are you, standing here in the guise of a servant? Reveal everything, O wise one, for I am eager to listen.” The wise one replied, “The reason for coming and acting in all places is for the sake of usefulness. A being desires to obtain a body and so forth, in order to experience the results of virtue and vice. Since virtue and vice arise from this, the cause must be questioned: from where do they come? The passage from one body to another is for the sake of enjoyment—the fulfillment of desires and the reaping of deeds. Yet, this cannot truly be spoken or heard; still, the desire to know persists within you. “The phrase ‘I am’ brings no fault when applied to oneself, O twice-born king. But knowledge of the self in what is not truly the self, or using words as merely defined by scripture, is not proper. By this understanding, I am the cause of all speech production, yet to say ‘I am speech’ or ‘I am the speaker’ is not appropriate either. So, O king, where should I assign this designation ‘I am’? “This body is not truly ‘I’, nor are any others; and yet, there is still a desire to speak in such terms. Then, who are you and who am I? Such speech is ultimately fruitless. This world you perceive, O king, is not real, so it is said by the wise. Where is the true designation of ‘tree’ or ‘wood’ for this palanquin, O king? And in the wood itself, no one calls you the one who has entered the palanquin. “Seek, therefore, the palanquin that brings true joy, O best of kings. Where was the umbrella born? This reasoning applies to both you and me alike. The worldly designations we use are to be understood as pertaining to bodies, which themselves are the causes of action. The differences in bodily forms, O king, are the sources of various actions. “Likewise, consider another: that too is not ultimately true, but is a product of imagination. That object, O king, which arises from transformation and so forth—what truly is it? Tell me, who are you—the husband of your wife, the father of your son? Is it your foot or another part? This is not so—what is truly yours, O king? “O king, become skilled in deep reflection: ask yourself, ‘Who am I?’ How, O ruler, can one who acts as if separate ever accomplish what must truly be done?” With these words, the wise one led the king into profound contemplation of the nature of self, the body, and the world, urging him to seek the truth beyond mere appearances and labels.