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VII, 6, 11.
OF MILINDA THE KING.
355
55. THE TREE.
9. 'Venerable Nâgasena, those three qualities of the tree you say he ought to take, which are they?' 'Just, O king, as the tree bears fruits and flowers; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, bear the flowers of emancipation and the fruits of Samanaship1. This, O king, is the first quality of the tree he ought to have.
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10. And again, O king, as the tree casts its shadow over the men who come to it, and stay beneath it; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, receive with kindness, both as regards their bodily wants and their religious necessities, those that wait upon him, and remain near by him. This, O king, is the second quality of the tree he ought to have.
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11. And again, O king, just as the tree makes no kind of distinction in the shadow it affords; [410] just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, make no distinctions between all men, but nourish an equal love to those who rob, or hurt, or bear enmity to him, and to those who are like unto himself. This, O king, is the third quality of the tree he ought to have. For it was said, O king, by Sâriputta, the Elder, the Commander of the Faith:
"Devadatta, who tried to murder him; Angulimâla, highway robber chief;
The elephant set loose to take his life; And Râhula, the good, his only sonThe sage is equal-minded to them all 2."'
1 The Simhalese, p. 610, is here greatly expanded.
This stanza has only been traced at present in commentaries,
A a 2
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| SR No. | 007682 |
| Book Title | Questions of King Milinda Part 02 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | T W Rhys Davids |
| Publisher | Oxford |
| Publication Year | 1894 |
| Total Pages | 2240 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 38 MB |