The serpent said Whether any prime cause exists or not, no effect is done without an (intermediate) act. Therefore, causation being of no importance in either case, my act as the cause should be considered in full.
सर्प उवाच कार्याभावे क्रिया न स्यात् सत्यसत्यपि कारणे। तस्मात् समेऽस्मिन् हेतौ मे वाच्यो हेतुर्विशेषतः॥