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IV, 1, 34.
DEVADATTA.
169
with the stick of caustic, and administered a salty wash ?'
Certainly not, Sir; it would be with kindness in his heart, and intent on the man's weal, that he would do all those things.'
And the feelings of pain produced by his efforts to heal-would not the surgeon be guilty of any wrong in respect of them ?
How so? Acting with kind intent and for the man's weal, how could he therein incur a wrong? It is of heavenly bliss rather that that kindly surgeon would be worthy.'
Just so, great king, was it in his mercy that the Blessed One admitted Devadatta, to the end to release him from pain.'
34. Hear another and further reason, O king, why the Blessed One did so. Suppose a man had been pierced by a thorn. And another man with kindly intent and for his good were to cut round the place with another sharp thorn or with a lancet, and the blood flowing the while, were to extract that thorn. Now would it be out of cruelty that he acted so ?'
Certainly not, Sir. For he acted with kindly intent, and for the man's good. And if he had not done so the man might have died, or might have suffered such pain that he would have been nigh to death.'
Just even so, great king, was it of his mercy that the Tathagata admitted Devadatta, to the end to release him of his pain. If he had not done so [113] Devadatta would have suffered torment in purgatory through a succession of existences, through hundreds of thousands of Kalpas.'
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