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THE QUESTIONS OF KING MILINDA. IV, 4, 16.
the Order) say that “Sâma the Prince, while dwelling in the cultivation of a loving disposition toward all beings, and when he was (in consequence thereof) wandering in the forest followed by a herd of deer, was hit by a poisoned arrow shot by Piliyakkha the king, and there, on the spot, fainted and fell ?." Now, venerable Nâgasena, if the passage I have quoted from the words of the Blessed One be right, then this statement of yours must be wrong. But if the story of Prince Sama be right, then it cannot be true that neither fire, nor poison, nor sword can work harm to him who cultivates the habit of love to all beings. This too is a double-edged problem, so subtle, so abstruse, so delicate, and so profound, that the thought of having to solve it might well bring out sweat over the body even of the most subtle-minded of mortals. This problem is now put to you. Unravel this mighty knot? Throw light upon this matters to the accomplishment of the desire of those sons of the Conqueror who shall arise hereafter 4'.
The Blessed One spake, O king, as you have quoted. And Prince Sâma dwelling in the cultivation of love, and thus followed by a herd of deer when he was wandering in the forest, was hit by the poisoned arrow shot by king Piliyakkha, and then and there fainted and fell. But there is a reason for that. [199] And what is the reason ? Simply that those virtues (said in the passage you quoted
? Mr. Trenckner points out that this story is given in the 5401h Gataka.
* See p. 105 of the text. • Kakk hum dehi. So also p. 95 of the text. • Nibbâhana; not in Childers, but see p. 119 of the text.
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