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1, 34.
NAGASENA ARRIVES AT INSIGHT.
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down before his teacher, and passing him on the right side as he went, he took his bowl and his robe and departed for Påtaliputta.
33. [17] At that time a merchant of Pataliputta was on his way back to that city with five hundred waggons. And when he saw the venerable Nâgasena coming in the distance, he stopped the waggons, and saluted Nagasena, and asked him : • Whither art thou going, father?'
·To Påtaliputta, householder.' "That is well, father. We too are going thither. It will be more convenient for thee to go with us.'
And the merchant, pleased with Någasena's manners, provided him with food, hard and soft, as much as he required, waiting upon him with his own hands. And when the meal was over, he took a low seat, and sat down reverently apart. So seated, he said to the venerable Nagasena : What, father, is your name?' 'I am called Nagasena, householder.'
Dost thou know, father, what are the words of Buddha ?'
I know the Abhidhamma.'
We are most fortunate, father; this is indeed an advantage. I am a student of the Abhidhamma, and so art thou. Repeat to me, father, some passages from it.'
Then the venerable Nâgasena preached to him from the Abhidhamma, and by degrees as he did so there arose in Nagasena's heart the Insight into the Truth, clear and stainless, which perceives that whatsoever has in itself the necessity of beginning, that too has also the inherent quality of passing away.
34. And the Pâtaliputta merchant sent on his
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