Now the sage replies that Savala has done him no harm - implying that he is able to suffer - here he pretends to be imperfect; in reality the great sages do not know any suffering by virtue of their very nature.

Being free they are detached from bondage, and therefore the unfulfilled desires which cause suffering do not exist for them.

“The saint increases this impression of personal weakness and limitation even more by saying in front of everyone that the king had taken the cow by force.

This is a tough test for the self-control of the king, because Helgi knows very well that Sehermund systematically forced him into this role ever since he entered the hermitage, and that he, the king, does not act at his own discretion.

“But Helgi remains silent and bears the reproach with patience.
By quietly and patiently bearing these unjust accusations the king is purified with the help of the sage from the guilt of his previous violation of duty without anyone of his retinue noticing anything.

“Now the king can breathe again but the sage continues, ”My might is not up to his.”

The very opposite of this statement was the experience of the king ever since he arrived, and particularly only a moment ago; and the sageis claim of the king's power is further underlined by hinting at the coarse, gross outer means a king has at his disposal: the elephants, horses, chariots and a huge army.

“As if these outer means could impress and thus bind a king!

This might be the limited view of the followers of the king assembled here, but not Helgi's view: the statesman feels bound only by his very duty - his obligation towards those entrusted to him to lead them to perfection: this commitment does not give him any rest at day or at night and keeps him occupied incessantly.

“However, Helgi bears this claim of the sage with patience too, and he learns from it a substantial lesson: it is not important to express the truth before people that think limited like the retinue of the king assembled here; rather it is necessary to express whatever guides the individual, which does not know truth by himself, to the truth.

This is a practical wisdom which the king has to apply in his action, and the sage Sehermund demonstrates just this, and it will be shown again later.