Buddhaguṇasatipaṭilābhapañha

Milindapañha

Milinda’s Questions

Arūpadhammavavatthānavagga

Analysis of Formless Dhammas Chapter

2. Buddhaguṇasatipaṭilābhapañha

2. Question on Obtaining Mindfulness on a Quality of the Buddha

Rājā āha—

The king said:

“bhante nāgasena, tumhe etaṁ bhaṇatha—

“Venerable Nāgasena, you said this,

‘yo vassasataṁ akusalaṁ kareyya, maraṇakāle ca ekaṁ buddhaguṇaṁ satiṁ paṭilabheyya, so devesu uppajjeyyā’ti etaṁ na saddahāmi, evañca pana vadetha ‘ekena pāṇātipātena niraye uppajjeyyā’ti etampi na saddahāmī”ti.

‘One could do evil for a hundred years, but at the time of death might obtain a single mindful moment on a quality of the Buddha, and thus arise in the realm of the devas,’ I don’t believe this. And then you said, ‘One might arise in a hell realm by killing one person,’ this too I don’t believe.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, khuddakopi pāsāṇo vinā nāvāya udake uppilaveyyā”ti.

“What do you think, your majesty, could even a small stone float on the water without a boat?”

“Na hi, bhante”ti.

“Certainly not, venerable sir.”

“Kiṁ nu kho, mahārāja, vāhasatampi pāsāṇānaṁ nāvāya āropitaṁ udake uppilaveyyā”ti?

“But, your majesty, could even a load of a hundred stones loaded onto a boat float on the water?”

“Āma, bhante”ti.

“Yes, venerable sir.”

“Yathā, mahārāja, nāvā, evaṁ kusalāni kammāni daṭṭhabbānī”ti.

“Your majesty, skilled deeds should be considered as like a boat.”

“Kallosi, bhante nāgasenā”ti.

“You are clever, Venerable Nāgasena!”

Buddhaguṇasatipaṭilābhapañho dutiyo.

Question on Obtaining Mindfulness on a Quality of the Buddha second