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IV, 3, 15.
THE FOOLISH FELLOW.
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die. Would then, O king, the man who gave away the ambrosia be guilty therein of any offence ?' 'No, Sir.'
Just so, O king, does the Tathầgata present the gift of his ambrosia to the men and gods in the ten thousand world systems; and those beings who are capable of doing so are made wise by the nectar of his law, while they who are not are destroyed and fall. Food, O king, preserves the lives of all beings. But some who eat of it die of cholerał. Is the man who feeds the hungry guilty therein of any offence ?' 'No, Sir.'
Just so, O king, does the Tathagata present the gift of his ambrosia to the men and gods in the ten thousand world systems; and those beings who are capable of doing so are made wise by the nectar of his law, while they who are not are destroyed and fall.'
Very good, Nagasena! That is so, and I accept it as you say [Here ends the dilemma on the harm resulting
from preaching.)
[THE SECRETS OF A TATHÂgata.] 11. [This dilemma treats of one of the thirty bodily signs of a 'great man' (Mahâpurusha) supposed to be possessed by every Tathâgata, but as it deals with matters not usually spoken of in this century, it is best read in the original.]
[THE FOOLISH FELLOW.] 15. [170] 'Venerable Nâgasena, it was said by the Elder Sâriputta, the commander of the faith : "The
i Visůkikâya, which Hînati-kumburê renders: Agîrna wa wiwekâbâdhayen. So above, IV, 2, 18.
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