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108
THE QUESTIONS OF KING MILINDA.
III, 4, 8.
8. The king said: 'Venerable Nâgasena, does he who does not receive Nirvana know how happy a state Nirvana is 1 ?'
Yes, he knows it.'
But how can he know that without his receiving Nirvana ?'
Now what do you think, o king? Do those whose hands and feet have not been cut off know how sad a thing it is to have them cut off?'
Yes, Sir, that they know.' But how do they know it?'
Well, by hearing the sound of the lamentation of those whose hands and feet have been cut off, they know it.'
[70] Just so, great king, it is by hearing the glad words of those who have seen Nirvana, that they who have not received it know how happy a state it is.'
Very good, Nagasena !
Here ends the Fourth Chapter.
The opposite point (whether he who has Nirvana, knows that he has it) is discussed above, II, 2.
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