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338.
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SÚTRAKRITÂNGA...
O white lotus, best of Nymphaeas !' And the white lotus, the best of Nymphaeas, flew up. (10)
I have told you, O long-lived Sramanas, a simile"; you must comprehend the meaning of it? The Nirgrantha monks and nuns worshipped and praised the Venerable Ascetic Mahâvîra, and then spoke thus : 'You have told, O long-lived Sramana, the simile, but we do not comprehend its meaning, O long-lived Sramana!' The Venerable Ascetic Mahâvira addressed the crowd of Nirgrantha monks and nuns, and spoke thus : Ah, you long-lived Sramanas! I shall tell, declare, explain, expound, and demonstrate it with its meaning, reasons, and arguments. Thus I say: (11)
O long-lived Sramanas 3, meaning 4 the world I spoke of the lotus-pool. Meaning Karman I spoke of the water. Meaning pleasures and amusements I spoke of the mud. Meaning people in general I spoke of those many white lotuses, the best of Nymphaeas. Meaning the king I spoke of the one big white lotus, the best of Nymphaeas. Meaning heretical teachers I spoke of those four men. Meaning the Law I spoke of the monk. Meaning the church” I spoke of the bank. Meaning the preaching of the Law I spoke of the monk's) voice. Meaning Nirvana I spoke of (the lotus') flying up. Meaning these things, O long-lived Sramanas, I told this (simile). (12)
1 Nâê= gñatam, literally, that which is known.
* In the text the sentence closes with bhante, a word frequently used in addressing members of the order.
$ These words are in the original repeated in each of the following sentences. I drop them in the translation.
• Appâ hatturâtmany âhritya, literally, having in my mind. • Dharmatîrtha.
