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302
THE QUESTIONS OF KING MILINDA.
IV, 4, 47.
away, and he saw the matter in the light (in which the intercessors on their behalf wished him to see it). For the Tathagata, o king, is lord of the Scriptures. It was with parables that had been first preached by the Tathagata himself that they conciliated him, pleased him, gained him over, and it was on being thus gained over that he signified his approval of what they had said). It was, O king, as when a wife conciliates, and pleases, and gains over her husband by means of things that belong to the husband himself; and the husband signifies his approval thereof. Or it was, O king, as when the royal barber conciliates and pleases and gains over the king when he dresses the king's head with the golden combo which belongs to the king himself, and the king then signifies his approval thereof. Or it was, O king, as when an attendant novice, when he serves his teacher with the food given in alms which his teacher has himself brought home, conciliates him and pleases him and gains him over, and the teacher then signifies his approval thereof.
Very good, Nagasena ! That is so, and I accept it as you say. [Here ends the problem as to the all-wise Buddha
being gained over by intercession 8.]
Here ends the Fourth Chapter.
* This is quite correct. They are in the fourth book of the Anguttara Sutta, No. 13.
Panaka, a word only found in this passage. Hînafi-kumburê (p. 280 at the end) renders it ran panawen.
• Other cruxes arising out of the dogma of the Buddha's omniscience are discussed above, III, 6, 2.
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