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VII, 7, 15.
OF MILINDA THE KING.
369
66. Food. 12. 'Venerable Nâgasena, those three qualities of food you say he ought to take, which are they?'
Just, О king, as food is the support of all beings, just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, be a handle, as it were, by which all beings may open the door of the noble eightfold path. This, o king, is the first of the qualities of food he ought to have.
13. 'And again, o king, just as food increases people's strength; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, grow in increase of virtue. This, o king, is the second of the qualities of food he ought to have.
14. 'And again, O king, just as food is a thing desired of all beings; just so, O king, should the strenuous Bhikshu, earnest in effort, be desired of all the world. This, o king, is the third of the qualities of food he ought to have. For it was said, O king, by Maha Moggallâna, the Elder : "By self-restraint, training, and righteousness,
By duty done, and by attainments reached, The strenuous recluse should make himself To all men in the world a thing desired ?."'
67. THE ARCHER. 15. [418] Venerable Nagasena, those four qualities of the archer you say he ought to take, which are they?'
* Just, o king, as the archer, when discharging
(36]
· Not traced as yet.
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