Questions of King Milinda Part 02

SR No.: 007682
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T W Rhys Davids
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1894
Total Pages: 2240
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 38 MB

Page 277

VI, 4.
OF MILINDA THE KING.
247
to rest!. It will be, O king, as when an able writing-master, on exhibiting, by request, his skill in writing, will supplement the written signs by an explanation of reasons out of his experience and knowledge, and thus that writing of his becomes finished, perfect, without defect. So will I also bring to bear a manifestation of reasons out of my experience and knowledge; and thus shall this matter be thoroughly analysed, its beauty shall be brought out, it shall be exhausted, set at rest .
4. 'In the city of Sâvatthi, o king, about fifty millions of the disciples of the Blessed One, devout men and devout women, were walking in the paths, and out of those three hundred and fifty-seven thousand 3 were established in the fruit of the third path. And all of them were laity, not members of the Order. And there too, at the foot of the Gandamba tree, when the double miracle took place 4, two hundred millions of living beings 5 penetrated to an understanding (of the four Truths). And again on the delivery of the Rahulovada discourse, and of the Maha Mangala' discourse, and of the Samakitta & exposition, and of the
Samânîto, 'treated with respectful affection,' says Hinatikumburê.
I cannot hope to have solved all the difficulties with which the last two paragraphs bristle. But I think the general sense is clear, and the way smoothed for future translators.
: This curious number (like others below) must have a history and a meaning.
• See Sumangala Vilâsinî, p. 57; Gâtaka I, 77, 78; IV, 263–266. * Mostly gods of one sort or another. • See the note above on I, 32 (p. 20 of the Pali). ? In the Sutta Nipâta II, 4.
See the note above, loc. cit.
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