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THE QUESTIONS OF KING MILINDA.
IV, 1, 31.
the Blessed One guilty of any wrong in that he turned Devadatta from being a man of much sorrow into being a man of less sorrow?'
No indeed, Sir. He committed no wrong, not even in the smallest degree?'
Then accept this, great king, to the full as the reason for which the Blessed One admitted Devadatta to the Order.'
31. 'Hear another and further reason, O king, for the Blessed One's having admitted Devadatta. Suppose men were to seize and hurry before the king some wicked robber, saying: “This is the wicked robber, your Majesty. Inflict upon him such punishment as you think fit!" And thereupon the king were to say to them: “Take this robber then, my men, outside the town, and there on the place of execution cut off his head." And they in obedience to his orders were to take that man accordingly towards the place of execution. And some man who was high in office near the king, and of great reputation and wealth and property, whose word was held of weight?, and whose influence was great, should see him. And he were to have pity on him, and were to say to those men : “Stay, good fellows. What good will cutting off his head do to you? Save him alive, and cut off only a hand or a foot. I will speak on his behalf to the king." And they at the word of that influential person were to do so. Now would the officer who had acted so towards him have been a benefactor to that robber?'
? Gaddhanam pi. It is the Sanskrit dadrûghna.
• Âdeyya-vakano. See my note, Kullavagga VI, 4, 8, and also Puggala Paññatti III, 12, and Paška Gati Dipana, 98.
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