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THE QUESTIONS OF KING MILINDA. IV, 4, 45.
universe' were, together, to attack one Arahat in order to put him to fear, yet would they bring about no variation in his heart. And why? Because there is neither condition nor cause for fear (in him, whence fear could arise). Rather, Oking, was it these considerations that arose in the minds of those Arahats : "To-day when the best of the best of men, the hero among conquerors, has entered into the famous city, Dhana-pâlaka the elephant will rush down the street. But to a certainty the brother who is his special attendant will not forsake him who is above the god of gods. But if we should not go away, then neither will the goodness of Ananda be made manifest, nor will the elephant actually approach ? the Tathagata. Let us then withdraw. Thus will great masses of the people attain to emancipation from the bonds of evil, and the goodness of Ananda be made manifest.” It was on the realisation of the fact that those advantages would arise from their doing so, that the Arahats withdrew to every side.' . Well, Nagasena, have you solved the puzzle.
That is so. The Arahats feared not, nor did they tremble. But for the advantages that they foresaw they withdrew on every side.'
[Here ends the problem as to the panic of the
Arahats.]
· Literally, 'In the hundreds of thousands of world systems.
• Althanam-anavakâsataya, Because of the absence of condition and opportunity.
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