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THE QUESTIONS AND PUZZLES
VI, 13.
the moon is it, О king, as being longed and hoped for by those who desire to be pure. Like the sun is it, О king, as dispelling the blackness of the darkness of ignorance for those who desire to be pure. Like the ocean is it, o king, as causing to arise in those desiring to be pure the costly treasures of the virtues of those who have renounced the world, and by reason too of its immensity, of its being beyond measure and beyond count.
13. 'Thus is it, О king, of great service to those desiring to be pure, a remover of all sorrow and lamentation, an antidote to discontent; it puts an end to fear, and individuality, and imperviousness of mind; to evil, and to grief, and to pain, and to lust, and to malice, and to dullness, and to pride, and to heresy, and to all wrong dispositions; it brings with it honour and advantage and bliss; it fills them with ease and with love and with peace of mind; it is free from blame; it has happiness here as its fruit; it is a mine and treasure of goodness that is beyond measure and beyond count, costly above all things, and precious.
14. 'Just, o king, as men for nourishment seek after food, for health medicine, for assistance a friend, for crossing water a boat, for pleasant odours a perfume, for security a place of refuge, for support the earth, for instruction a teacher, for honours a king, and for whatever they desire a wishing-gem-just so, O king, do the Arahats seek after the virtues of the keeping of the vows for the attainment of all the advantages of renunciation of the world.
15. 'And what water is for the growth of seeds, [356] what fire is for burning, what food is for giving strength, what a crecper is for tying things up, what
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