Volume 2

An ancient fragmentary scroll excavated from desert ruins by scholars of the Akademiya's Vahumana Darshan; the author's identity cannot be determined.

Then the mistress of the floating tray spoke again:

"Merciful king, if you are indeed so sincere,

then please listen here as I recite the first riddle.

What thing, while living, is cold as a dead object,

yet after it vanishes can send people a warm, mild wind?"

The princess of (...) answered thus:

"You speak of the rose that passes easily in late spring—full of thorns yet hard to hide its fragrance.

Flowers are plucked to make thick perfume; stems are cut for the lamp's wick-core.

Through the ages how many lovers have been drunk on her; the scarlet-bannered king too admired her brief beauty.

Yet when did the rose ever long for anyone? She only withered with the new moon and morning dew."

The mistress of the floating tray approved in her heart, yet her fair face remained calm as ever.

Without changing expression she stepped forward one pace and spoke the second riddle to the princess.

The mistress of the floating tray said:

"All-knowing king, you have indeed answered the first riddle I spoke,

but from the stars to the abyss, this world still holds countless mysteries hard to explain.

All-knowing king, if your wisdom truly matches the people's legends without a hair's difference,

then as you answered the first riddle, answer the second question I pose.

What thing rises from earth to heaven, and descends again from heaven,

none has ever beheld it, yet it gazes upon all things,

what is above is just as what is below, and what is below is like what is above,

yet it may only go from above to below, never from below to above?"

The princess of (...) answered thus:

"You speak of the right law fixed by high heaven, the sacred plan cast at the beginning.

None in the world has ever seen the eternal law, yet the law always rules the myriad phenomena of the world.

One may only prostrate and revere the Varuna of the dome-spirits; one must not arrogantly chase fraud, craft, and clever error.

If one dares to copy that forbidden art, only calamitous annihilation waits at the border of true knowing."