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72
THE QUESTIONS OF KING MILINDA.
II, 2, 6.
'If that be so, Sir, would not the new being be released from its evil Karma??'
The Elder replied : Yes, if it were not reborn. But just because it is reborn, O king, it is therefore not released from its evil Karma.'
Give me an illustration.'
Suppose, o king, some man were to steal a mango from another man, and the owner of the mango were to seize him and bring him before the king, and charge him with the crime. And the thief were to say: "Your Majesty! I have not taken away this man's mangoes. Those that he put in the ground are different from the ones I took. I do not deserve to be punished.” How then? would he be guilty ?'
Certainly, Sir. He would deserve to be punished.'
But on what ground ?'
Because, in spite of whatever he may say, he would be guilty in respect of the last mango which resulted from the first one (the owner set in the ground).'
Just so, great king, deeds good or evil are done by this name-and-form and another is reborn. But that other is not thereby released from its deeds (its
Karma)
Give me a further illustration.' 'It is like rice or sugar so stolen, of which the same might be said as of the mango. [47] Or it is like the fire which a man, in the cold season, might kindle, and when he had warmed himself, leave still burning, and go away. Then if that fire were to set
· Repeated below, III, 5, 7, p. 112.
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