The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 13.1.14

13.1.14

gautamyuvāca |
visṛjainamabuddhistvaṃ na vadhyo'rjunaka tvayā |
ko hyātmānaṃ guruṃ kuryātprāptavye sati cintayan || 14 ||

"Gautami replied, 'Do thou, O Arjunaka of little understanding, release this serpent. It doth not deserve death at thy hands. Who is so foolish as to disregard the inevitable lot that awaits him and burdening himself with such folly sink into sin? Those that have made themselves light by the practice of virtuous deeds, manage to cross the sea of the world even as a ship crosses the ocean. But those that have made themselves heavy with sin sink into the bottom, even as an arrow thrown into the water. By killing the serpent, this my boy will not be restored to life, and by letting it live, no harm will be caused to thee. Who would go to the interminable regions of Death by slaying this living creature?'