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THE QUESTIONS AND PUZZLES
VII, 1, 13.
Now though by hunger dire oppressed My stomach seem to rise, to go, Ne'er will I break my rule of life, Not though my life I sacrifice ?.”'
6. THE TORTOISE. 12. “Venerable Nâgasena, those five qualities of the tortoise which you say he ought to take, what are they?'
* Just, О king, as the tortoise, which is a water animal, keeps to the water ; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, let his heart go out over the whole wide world with pity and with love-mighty, abounding, beyond measure, free from every feeling of hatred or of malice-towards all creatures that have life. This, o king, is the first of the qualities of the tortoise he ought to have.
13. 'And again, O king, just as the tortoise, when, as he swims on the water and raises his head, he catches sight of any one, that moment sinks, and dives into the depths, lest they should see him again ; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, when evil inclinations fall upon him, sink into the waters of meditation, dive down into the deeps thereof, lest those evil inclinations should catch sight of him again. This, o king, is the
Not traced as yet. Hînan-kumburê gives a long account of the circumstances under which these verses were spoken. Sariputta was ill. Moggallana asked him what would be good for him to take. Sâriputta told him. His friend then, by intervention of the king of the gods, procured it. But Sâriputta refused to make use of it.
The Brahma-vihâras (Nos. I and 2). See · Buddhist Suttas," p. 201.
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