The king gave a sign and the servants dispersed the crowd. When all was quiet again, the king said: "At the palace, you sat at the top of the stairs and spoke justice. But now, through your knowledge of suffering, you are wiser than any judge has ever been before, and you shall sit beside me so that I can listen to your words and become knowledgeable myself of your justice."
But Virata grasped his knee as a sign of petition: "Acquit me of all my duties! I can no longer render verdicts for I know that no one can be another's judge. It is for god to punish, not man, because whoever interferes in another's destiny begets sin. And I wish to live my life without sin."
And the king replied: "Then be not a judge in my realm but counsellor for my actions and prudently advise me in war and peace and fairness in taxes and tributes so that I do not err in my decisions."
And Virata grasped once more the knee of the king.
"Do not give me power, king, for power begets action and what action is there that is just and not against someone's destiny? When advising for war, I would be sowing the seeds of death, and what I speak would grow into actions and every action has a significance I cannot foresee. He only can be just who does not share in the destiny and undertakings of another, but lives in solitude. I was never nearer to this insight than when I was alone, and without the words of others around me; never was I freer from guilt. Let me live in peace in my house without any duties other than sacrifices before the gods, that I may remain free of all sin."
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