Nibbānavagga

Milindapañha

Milinda’s Questions

Nibbānavagga

Nibbāna Chapter

2. Nāgasenapañha

2. Nāgasena’s Question

Thero āha—

The elder asked:

“loṇaṁ, mahārāja, cakkhuviññeyyan”ti.

“Is salt, your majesty, cognizable by the eye?”

“Āma, bhante, cakkhuviññeyyan”ti.

“Yes, venerable sir, it is cognizable by the eye.”

“Suṭṭhu kho, mahārāja, jānāhī”ti.

“Think carefully, your majesty.”

“Kiṁ pana, bhante, jivhāviññeyyan”ti?

“Is it then, venerable sir, cognizable by the tongue?”

“Āma, mahārāja, jivhāviññeyyan”ti.

“Yes, your majesty, it is cognizable by the tongue.”

“Kiṁ pana, bhante, sabbaṁ loṇaṁ jivhāya vijānātī”ti?

“Then, venerable sir, is all salt cognizable by the tongue?”

“Āma, mahārāja, sabbaṁ loṇaṁ jivhāya vijānāti”.

“Yes, your majesty, all salt is cognizable by the tongue.”

“Yadi, bhante, sabbaṁ loṇaṁ jivhāya vijānāti, kissa pana taṁ sakaṭehi balībaddā āharanti, nanu loṇameva āharitabban”ti?

“If, venerable sir, all salt is cognizable by the tongue, why then do oxen bring it by the cartload, shouldn’t just salt be brought?”

“Na sakkā, mahārāja, loṇameva āharituṁ ekatobhāvagatā ete dhammā gocaranānattagatā loṇaṁ garubhāvo cāti.

“It is not possible to bring just salt, your majesty, since these things arise together with a diversity in their range, and as well, salt has heaviness.

Sakkā pana, mahārāja, loṇaṁ tulāya tulayitun”ti?

Is it possible to weigh salt on scales?”

“Āma, bhante, sakkā”ti.

“Yes, venerable sir, it is possible.”

“Na sakkā, mahārāja, loṇaṁ tulāya tulayituṁ, garubhāvo tulāya tuliyatī”ti.

“It is not possible, your majesty, to weigh salt on scales. One weighs the heaviness on scales.”

“Kallosi, bhante nāgasenā”ti.

“You are clever, Venerable Nāgasena!”

Nāgasenapañho dutiyo.

Nāgasena’s Question second