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202
THE QUESTIONS AND PUZZLES
IV, 8, 85.
[DILEMMA THE EIGHTY-SECOND.
THE PLACE OF NIRVÂNA.] 85. “Venerable Nâgasena, does there exist the spot-either in the direction of the East, or of the South, or of the West, or of the North, either above, or below, or on the horizon—where Nirvana is stored up 1 ?'
There is no spot, O king,-either in the East, or the South, or in the West, or the North, either above, or below, or on the horizon—where Nirvâna is.'
• But if so, Nâgasena, then neither can Nirvana exist, and those who realise it, their realisation is vain. And I will give you an explanation of this. Just, Sir, as there are on the earth fields in which crops can be grown, flowers from which perfumes come, bushes on which flowers can grow, trees on which fruits can ripen, mines from which gems can be dug, so that whosoever desires any of these things can go there and get it-just so, Nâgasena,
if [327] Nirvana exists one must expect there to be . some place, where it is produced. But since there
is not, therefore I declare that there can be no Nirvana, and those who realise it, their realisation is vain.'
86. There is no spot, O king, where Nirvana is
atteindre Nirvana dans cette vie même. Il est fâcheux que l'auteur ne se soit pas expliqué plus catégoriquement sur cette question intéressante' (1).
Sannihitam perhaps'is situate.' Hînati-kumburê has pihitiye, can be got.'
? Ikkhitabbo. See above, p. 269 of the Pali.
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