________________
VII, 4, 7.
and dwell with his weapon, knowledge, always drawn. This, O king, is the quality of the scorpion he ought to have. For it was said, O king, by Upasena Vanganta-putta, the Elder:
OF MILINDA THE KING.
"With his sword of knowledge drawn, the man of
insight
Should ever be unconquerable in the fight, Set free from every fear 1."
329
35. THE MUNGOOSE.
6. 'Venerable Nâgasena, that one quality of the mungoose you say he ought to take, which is it?'
'Just, O king, as the mungoose, when attacking a snake, only does so when he has covered his body with an antidote; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, when going into the world where anger and hatred are rife, which is under the sway of quarrels, strife, disputes, and enmities, ever keep his mind anointed with the antidote of love. This, O king, is the quality of the mungoose he ought to have. For it was said, O king, by Sâriputta, the Elder, the Commander of
the Faith:
"Therefore should love be felt for one's own kin, And so for strangers too, and the whole wide world Should be pervaded with a heart of loveThis is the doctrine of the Buddhas all."'
36. THE OLD MALE JACKAL.
4
7. [395] Venerable Nâgasena, the two qualities of the old male jackal you say he ought to take, which are they?'
1 Not traced as yet.
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