Fetching
One moment.
Fetching
One moment.
Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
1nadhiga/£/£y£aye satima must be corrected according to the readings here. 344 the questions and puzzles vii, 5, 13. 44. The House-pigeon. 13. [403] 'Venerable Nagasena, that one quality of the house-pigeon you say he ought to take, which is it ? ' 'Just, O king, as the house-pigeon, while dwelling in the abode of others, of men, does not become enamoured of anything that belongs to them, but remains neutral, taking notice only of things per- taining to birds ; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, while resorting to other people's houses, never become enamoured of women or of men, of beds, or chairs, or garments, or jewelry, or things for use or enjoyment, or various forms of food that are there, but remain neutral always, addicted only to such ideas as become a recluse. This, O king, is the quality of the house- pigeon he ought to have. For it was said, O king, by the Blessed One, the god over all gods, in the Abulia Nanada 6ataka : " Frequenting people's homes for food or drink, In food and drink alike be temperate, And let not beauty's form attract thy thoughts 1." ' 45. The Owl. 14. 'Venerable Nagasena, those two qualities of the owl you say he ought to take, which are they ? ' ' Just, O king, as the owl, being at enmity with the crows, goes at night where the flocks of crows are, and kills numbers of them ; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, be 1 Gataka IV, 223. There is a difference of reading, making no difference to the sense ; and the words are put into the mouth, not of the Buddha, but of the old ascetic, the Bodisat of the story. VII, 5, 16. OF MILINDA THE KING. 345 at enmity with ignorance ; seated alone and in secret, he should crush it out of existence, cut it off at the root. This, O king, is the first quality of the owl he ought to have. 15. 'And again, O king, as the owl is a solitary bird; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, be devoted to solitude, take, delight in solitude. This, O king, is the second quality of the owl he ought to have. For it wras said, O king, by the Blessed One, the god over all gods, in the most excellent Sawyutta Nikaya : " Let the Bhikshu, my brethren, be devoted to solitude, take delight in solitude, to the end that he may realise what sorrow really is, and what the origin of sorrow really is, [404] and what the ces- sation of sorrow really is, and what the path that leads to the cessation of sorrow really is V ' 46. The Indian Crane2. 16. ' Venerable Ndgasena, that one quality of the Indian crane you say he ought to take, which is it ?'
2The Indian Crane2. 16. ' Venerable Ndgasena, that one quality of the Indian crane you say he ought to take, which is it ?' ' Just, O king, as the Indian crane by its cry makes known to other folk the good fortune or disaster that is about to happen to them ; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, make known to others by his preaching of the Dhamma how dreadful a state is purgatory, and how blissful is Nirvana. This, O king, is the quality of the Indian crane he ought to have. For it was said, O king, by Findola. Bhara-dva^a, the elder : 1 Not traced as yet. 2 Satapatto, literally 'the hundred-feathered one,' Sinhalese kcercel, quite different from the ordinary crane (bako). This one was a bird of ill omen. See Gataka II, 153 foil. 346 THE QUESTIONS AND PUZZLES VII, 5, 17. " Two matters there are that the earnest recluse Should ever to others be making clear — How fearful, how terrible, purgatory is ; How great and how deep is Nirvanas bliss \" ' 47. The Bat. 17. 'Venerable Nagasena, those two qualities of the bat you say he ought to take, which are they ? ' 'Just, O king, as the bat, though it enters into mens dwelling-places, and flies about in them, soon goes out from them, delays not therein ; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, when he has entered the village for alms, and gone on his rounds in regular order, depart quickly with the alms he has received, and delay not therein. This, O king, is the first quality of the bat he ought to have. 18. ' And again, O king, as the bat, while frequent- ing other folk's houses, does them no harm; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, when visiting the houses of the laity, never give them cause for vexation by persistent requests, or by pointing out what he wants, or by wrong demeanour, or by chattering, or by being indifferent to their pros- perity or adversity; he should never take them away from their chief business occupations, but desire their success in all things. This, O king, is the second quality of the bat he ought to have. For it was said, O king, [405] by the Blessed One, the god over all gods, in the Lakkha^a Suttanta : " ' Oh ! How may others never suffer loss Or diminution, whether in their faith, 1 Not traced as yet. VII, 5, 19. OF MILINDA THE KING. 347 Or righteousness, or knowledge of the word, Or understanding, or self-sacrifice, Or in religion, or in all good things, Or in their stores of wealth, or corn, or lands, Or tenements, or in their sons, or wives, Or in their flocks and herds, or in their friends, And relatives, and kinsmen, or in strength, In beauty, and in joy' — 'tis thus he thinks — Longing for other men's advantage and success 1 ! " '
3" ' 48. The Leech. 19. 'Venerable Nagasena, that one quality of the leech which you say he ought to take, which is it ? ' ' Just, O king, as the leech, wheresoever it is put on, there does it adhere firmly, drinking the blood ; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, on whatsoever subject for meditation he may fix his mind, call that subject firmly up before him in respect of its colour, and shape, and position, and extension, and boundaries, and nature, and characteristic marks, drinking the delicious draught of the ambrosia of emancipation. This, O king, is the quality of the leech he ought to have. For it was said, O king, by Anuruddha, the Elder : " With heart made pure, in meditation firm, Drink deep of freedom's never-failing draught V ' 1 This is from the 30th Sutta in the Digha Nikaya, where it occurs in the description of the Bodisat. 2 Not traced as yet. Childers translates ase^ana by 'charming/ &c, apparently on the authority of Subhuti's English gloss on Abhidhana Padipika 597. But that meaning is rather the point of union between all the synonyms given in the verse, and not the exact meaning of each of them. The word, either in its simple form, or with an added -ka, occurs in Theri Gatha 55 ; Magg^ima Nikaya I, 114. 348 the questions and puzzles vii, 5, 20. 49. The Serpent. 20. * Venerable Nagasena, those three qualities of the serpent you say he ought to take, which are they ? ' e Just, O king, as the serpent progresses by means of its belly; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, progress by means of his knowledge. For the heart of the recluse, O king, who progresses by knowledge, continues in percep- tion (of the four Truths), that which is inconsistent with the characteristics of a recluse1 does he put away, that which is consistent with them does he develop in himself. This, [406] O king, is the first quality of the serpent he ought to have. 21. ' And again, O king, just as the serpent as it moves avoids drugs 2 ; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, go on his way avoiding unrighteousness. This, O king, is the second quality of the serpent he ought to have. 22. ' And again, O king, as the serpent on catching sight of men is anxious, and pained, and seeks a way of escape3; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu,* earnest in effort, when he finds himself thinking wrong thoughts, or discontent arising within him, be anxious and pained, and seek a way of escape, saying to himself: "This day must I have spent in carelessness, and never shall I be able to recover it." This, O king, is the third quality of the 1 Vilakkha/zajw, not found elsewhere. Hina/i-kumbure, p. 604, renders it simply ' dullness' (mo ha). 2 c Goes slanting, avoiding medicinal plants, trees, &c./ says the Sinhalese. 3 ^intayati, perhaps ' put out/ Gcelawi yanta sitanneya, says the Sinhalese, p. 605. VII, 5, 33. OF MILINDA THE KING. 349
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
1nadhiga/£/£y£aye satima must be corrected according to the readings here. 344 the questions and puzzles vii, 5, 13. 44. The House-pigeon. 13. [403] 'Venerable Nagasena, that one quality of the house-pigeon you say he ought to take, which is it ? ' 'Just, O king, as the house-pigeon, while dwelling in the abode of others, of men, does not become enamoured of anything that belongs to them, but remains neutral, taking notice only of things per- taining to birds ; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, while resorting to other people's houses, never become enamoured of women or of men, of beds, or chairs, or garments, or jewelry, or things for use or enjoyment, or various forms of food that are there, but remain neutral always, addicted only to such ideas as become a recluse. This, O king, is the quality of the house- pigeon he ought to have. For it was said, O king, by the Blessed One, the god over all gods, in the Abulia Nanada 6ataka : " Frequenting people's homes for food or drink, In food and drink alike be temperate, And let not beauty's form attract thy thoughts 1." ' 45. The Owl. 14. 'Venerable Nagasena, those two qualities of the owl you say he ought to take, which are they ? ' ' Just, O king, as the owl, being at enmity with the crows, goes at night where the flocks of crows are, and kills numbers of them ; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, be 1 Gataka IV, 223. There is a difference of reading, making no difference to the sense ; and the words are put into the mouth, not of the Buddha, but of the old ascetic, the Bodisat of the story. VII, 5, 16. OF MILINDA THE KING. 345 at enmity with ignorance ; seated alone and in secret, he should crush it out of existence, cut it off at the root. This, O king, is the first quality of the owl he ought to have. 15. 'And again, O king, as the owl is a solitary bird; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, be devoted to solitude, take, delight in solitude. This, O king, is the second quality of the owl he ought to have. For it wras said, O king, by the Blessed One, the god over all gods, in the most excellent Sawyutta Nikaya : " Let the Bhikshu, my brethren, be devoted to solitude, take delight in solitude, to the end that he may realise what sorrow really is, and what the origin of sorrow really is, [404] and what the ces- sation of sorrow really is, and what the path that leads to the cessation of sorrow really is V ' 46. The Indian Crane2. 16. ' Venerable Ndgasena, that one quality of the Indian crane you say he ought to take, which is it ?'
2The Indian Crane2. 16. ' Venerable Ndgasena, that one quality of the Indian crane you say he ought to take, which is it ?' ' Just, O king, as the Indian crane by its cry makes known to other folk the good fortune or disaster that is about to happen to them ; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, make known to others by his preaching of the Dhamma how dreadful a state is purgatory, and how blissful is Nirvana. This, O king, is the quality of the Indian crane he ought to have. For it was said, O king, by Findola. Bhara-dva^a, the elder : 1 Not traced as yet. 2 Satapatto, literally 'the hundred-feathered one,' Sinhalese kcercel, quite different from the ordinary crane (bako). This one was a bird of ill omen. See Gataka II, 153 foil. 346 THE QUESTIONS AND PUZZLES VII, 5, 17. " Two matters there are that the earnest recluse Should ever to others be making clear — How fearful, how terrible, purgatory is ; How great and how deep is Nirvanas bliss \" ' 47. The Bat. 17. 'Venerable Nagasena, those two qualities of the bat you say he ought to take, which are they ? ' 'Just, O king, as the bat, though it enters into mens dwelling-places, and flies about in them, soon goes out from them, delays not therein ; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, when he has entered the village for alms, and gone on his rounds in regular order, depart quickly with the alms he has received, and delay not therein. This, O king, is the first quality of the bat he ought to have. 18. ' And again, O king, as the bat, while frequent- ing other folk's houses, does them no harm; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, when visiting the houses of the laity, never give them cause for vexation by persistent requests, or by pointing out what he wants, or by wrong demeanour, or by chattering, or by being indifferent to their pros- perity or adversity; he should never take them away from their chief business occupations, but desire their success in all things. This, O king, is the second quality of the bat he ought to have. For it was said, O king, [405] by the Blessed One, the god over all gods, in the Lakkha^a Suttanta : " ' Oh ! How may others never suffer loss Or diminution, whether in their faith, 1 Not traced as yet. VII, 5, 19. OF MILINDA THE KING. 347 Or righteousness, or knowledge of the word, Or understanding, or self-sacrifice, Or in religion, or in all good things, Or in their stores of wealth, or corn, or lands, Or tenements, or in their sons, or wives, Or in their flocks and herds, or in their friends, And relatives, and kinsmen, or in strength, In beauty, and in joy' — 'tis thus he thinks — Longing for other men's advantage and success 1 ! " '
3" ' 48. The Leech. 19. 'Venerable Nagasena, that one quality of the leech which you say he ought to take, which is it ? ' ' Just, O king, as the leech, wheresoever it is put on, there does it adhere firmly, drinking the blood ; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, on whatsoever subject for meditation he may fix his mind, call that subject firmly up before him in respect of its colour, and shape, and position, and extension, and boundaries, and nature, and characteristic marks, drinking the delicious draught of the ambrosia of emancipation. This, O king, is the quality of the leech he ought to have. For it was said, O king, by Anuruddha, the Elder : " With heart made pure, in meditation firm, Drink deep of freedom's never-failing draught V ' 1 This is from the 30th Sutta in the Digha Nikaya, where it occurs in the description of the Bodisat. 2 Not traced as yet. Childers translates ase^ana by 'charming/ &c, apparently on the authority of Subhuti's English gloss on Abhidhana Padipika 597. But that meaning is rather the point of union between all the synonyms given in the verse, and not the exact meaning of each of them. The word, either in its simple form, or with an added -ka, occurs in Theri Gatha 55 ; Magg^ima Nikaya I, 114. 348 the questions and puzzles vii, 5, 20. 49. The Serpent. 20. * Venerable Nagasena, those three qualities of the serpent you say he ought to take, which are they ? ' e Just, O king, as the serpent progresses by means of its belly; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, progress by means of his knowledge. For the heart of the recluse, O king, who progresses by knowledge, continues in percep- tion (of the four Truths), that which is inconsistent with the characteristics of a recluse1 does he put away, that which is consistent with them does he develop in himself. This, [406] O king, is the first quality of the serpent he ought to have. 21. ' And again, O king, just as the serpent as it moves avoids drugs 2 ; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, go on his way avoiding unrighteousness. This, O king, is the second quality of the serpent he ought to have. 22. ' And again, O king, as the serpent on catching sight of men is anxious, and pained, and seeks a way of escape3; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu,* earnest in effort, when he finds himself thinking wrong thoughts, or discontent arising within him, be anxious and pained, and seek a way of escape, saying to himself: "This day must I have spent in carelessness, and never shall I be able to recover it." This, O king, is the third quality of the 1 Vilakkha/zajw, not found elsewhere. Hina/i-kumbure, p. 604, renders it simply ' dullness' (mo ha). 2 c Goes slanting, avoiding medicinal plants, trees, &c./ says the Sinhalese. 3 ^intayati, perhaps ' put out/ Gcelawi yanta sitanneya, says the Sinhalese, p. 605. VII, 5, 33. OF MILINDA THE KING. 349
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
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