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IV, 3, 1.
THE DHARMA.
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Book IV. CHAPTER 3.
[PRECEDENCE OF THE Diarma.] 1. 'Venerable Nâgasena, it was said by the Blessed One: “For it is the Dhamma, O Vâsettha, which is the best in the world,' as regards both what we now see, and what is yet to come 2.” But again (according to your people) the devout layman who has entered the Excellent Way, for whom the possibility of rebirth in any place of woe has passed away, who has attained to insight, and to whom the doctrine is known, even such a one ought to salute and to rise from his seat in token of respect for, and to revere, any member of the Order, though a novice, and though he be unconverted 3. Now if the Dhamma be the best that rule of conduct is wrong, but if that be right then the first statement must be wrong.
1 This is a quotation from a celebrated verse, which is, as it were, the national anthem of those who, in the struggle for religious and ceremonial supremacy between the Brahmans and the nobles, took the side of the nobles (the Khattiyas). As might be expected it is not seldom found in the Buddhist Suttas, and is often put in the mouth of the Buddha, the most distinguished of these Khattiyas who were transcendental rather than military. It runs: "The Khattiya is the best in the world of those who observe the rules of exogamous marriage, but of the whole race of men and gods he who has wisdom and righteousness is the best.' See, for instance, the Ambatiha Sutta, in the Digha Nikâya, and the Sumangala Vilâsini on that passage. By 'best in the world' is meant 'entitled to take precedence before all others,' not best in the moral sense.
* From the Agganna Sutta in the Digha Nikaya.
. I cannot give any authority for this, but it is no doubt correct Buddhism according to the spirit of the Pitakas.
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