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III, 5, 10.
'Give me an illustration.'
'Now what do you think, O king? Can any one point out the fruits which a tree has not yet produced, saying: "Here they are, or there"?'
'Certainly not, Sir.'
THE BUDDHA.
'Just so, great king, so long as the continuity of life is not cut off, it is impossible to point out the deeds that are done.'
'Very good, Nâgasena!'
9. [73] The king said: 'Does he, Nâgasena, who is about to be reborn know that he will be born?'
'Yes, he knows it, O king.'
'Give me an illustration.'
113
'Suppose a farmer, O king, a householder, were to put seed in the ground, and it were to rain well, would he know that a crop would be produced.'
'Yes, he would know that.'
'Just so, great king, does he who is about to be reborn know that he will be born.'
'Very good, Nâgasena 2 !'
10. The king said: 'Is there such a person as the Buddha, Nâgasena?'
[35]
'Yes.'
'Can he then, Nâgasena, be pointed out as being here or there?'
'The Blessed One, O king, has passed away by that kind of passing away in which nothing remains which could tend to the formation of another indi
1 That is before he is born.
This is all very parallel to II, 2, 2.
I
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