________________
IV, 3, 30..
THE TALKING TREE.
241
just, О king, as a ball of cotton falling on a man raises no bruise, so do the words of the Tathagata, even when 'stern, do no harm.'
Well have you made this problem clear by many a simile. Very good, Nagasena! That is so, and I accept it as you say.'
[End of the dilemma as to the Buddha's harsh words
to Sudinna.]
[THE TREE TALKING.] 19. 'Venerable Nâgasena, the Tathagata said : “ Brahman! why do you ask an unconscious thing, Which cannot hear you, how it does to-day? Active, intelligent, and full of life, How can you speak to this so senseless thing
This wild Palâsa tree??" [173] And on the other hand he said : “And thus the Aspen tree then made reply:
I, Bhâradvaga, can speak too. Listen to me??”
Now if, Nagasena, a tree is an unconscious thing, it must be false that the Aspen tree spoke to Bhâradvaga. But if that is true, it must be false to say that a tree is unconscious. This too is a double-edged problem now put to you, and you have to solve it.'
20. The Master said, Nagasena, that a tree is unconscious. And the Aspen tree conversed with Bharadvåga. But that last is said, O king, by a common form of speech. For though a tree being unconscious cannot talk, yet the word "tree" is used
Gåtaka III, 24. It is not the Tathagata, but the Bodisat, who speaks. · Gâtaka IV, 210, where the verses are ascribed to the Buddha.
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