From:
MilindapaƱha Milinda's Questions
MahÄvagga Great Chapter
5. PabbajjapaƱha Going Forth Question
Atha kho ÄyasmÄ nÄgaseno yena milindassa raƱƱo nivesanaį¹ tenupasaį¹
kami, upasaį¹
kamitvÄ paƱƱatte Äsane nisÄ«di. Then venerable NÄgasena approached King Milindaās dwelling, and on arriving sat on the seat prepared.
Atha kho milindo rÄjÄ Äyasmantaį¹ nÄgasenaį¹ saparisaį¹ paį¹Ä«tena khÄdanÄ«yena bhojanÄ«yena sahatthÄ santappetvÄ sampavÄretvÄ ekamekaį¹ bhikkhuį¹ ekamekena dussayugena acchÄdetvÄ Äyasmantaį¹ nÄgasenaį¹ ticÄ«varena acchÄdetvÄ Äyasmantaį¹ nÄgasenaį¹ etadavocaāKing Milinda then served and satisfied with his own hands venerable NÄgasena and his assembly with delicious hard and soft foods, presented to each bhikkhu a pair of cloths, and to venerable NÄgasena a set of three robes. He said to venerable NÄgasena,
ābhante nÄgasena, dasahi, bhikkhÅ«hi saddhiį¹ idha nisÄ«datha, avasesÄ gacchantÅ«āti. āVenerable NÄgasena, sit here with ten bhikkhus and let the rest of them go.ā
Atha kho milindo rÄjÄ Äyasmantaį¹ nÄgasenaį¹ bhuttÄviį¹ onÄ«tapattapÄį¹iį¹ viditvÄ aƱƱataraį¹ nÄ«caį¹ Äsanaį¹ gahetvÄ ekamantaį¹ nisÄ«di, ekamantaį¹ nisinno kho milindo rÄjÄ Äyasmantaį¹ nÄgasenaį¹ etadavocaāThen King Milinda, having seen that venerable NÄgasena had eaten, and had withdrawn his hand from his bowl, took a certain low seat and sat down on one side. Seated there, King Milinda said to venerable NÄgasena,
ābhante nÄgasena, kimhi hoti kathÄsallÄpoāti? āWhat is the conversation to be about, venerable NÄgasena?ā
āAtthena mayaį¹, mahÄrÄja, atthikÄ, atthe hotu kathÄsallÄpoāti. āWe need a goal, your majesty. Let the conversation be about the goal.ā
RÄjÄ ÄhaāThe king said,
ākimatthiyÄ, bhante nÄgasena, tumhÄkaį¹ pabbajjÄ, ko ca tumhÄkaį¹ paramatthoāti. āWhat use for you, venerable NÄgasena, is your going forth? What is the ultimate goal for you?ā
Thero ÄhaāThe elder said,
ākinti, mahÄrÄja, idaį¹ dukkhaį¹ nirujjheyya, aƱƱaƱca dukkhaį¹ na uppajjeyyÄti. āHow then, your majesty, would this suffering cease, and other suffering not arise?
EtadatthÄ, mahÄrÄja, amhÄkaį¹ pabbajjÄ, anupÄdÄ parinibbÄnaį¹ kho pana amhÄkaį¹ paramatthoāti. This, your majesty, is the purpose of our going forth, and our ultimate goal is final nibbÄna without any clinging.ā
āKiį¹ pana, bhante nÄgasena, sabbe etadatthÄya pabbajantÄ«āti? āDo all go forth for this goal, venerable NÄgasena?ā
āNa hi, mahÄrÄja, keci etadatthÄya pabbajanti, keci rÄjÄbhinÄ«tÄ pabbajanti, keci corÄbhinÄ«tÄ pabbajanti, keci iį¹aį¹į¹Ä pabbajanti, keci ÄjÄ«vikatthÄya pabbajanti, ye pana sammÄ pabbajanti, te etadatthÄya pabbajantÄ«āti. āCertainly not, your majesty, some go forth through fear of kings, some go forth through fear of thieves, some go forth oppressed by debts, and others go forth for the sake of livelihood. But those who go forth the right way, go forth for such a goal.ā
āTvaį¹ pana, bhante, etadatthÄya pabbajitosÄ«āti? āDid you go forth for this goal, venerable sir?ā
āAhaį¹ kho, mahÄrÄja, daharako santo pabbajito, na jÄnÄmi imassa nÄmatthÄya pabbajÄmÄ«ti, api ca kho me evaį¹ ahosi āpaį¹įøitÄ ime samaį¹Ä sakyaputtiyÄ, te maį¹ sikkhÄpessantÄ«āti, svÄhaį¹ tehi sikkhÄpito jÄnÄmi ca passÄmi ca āimassa nÄmatthÄya pabbajjÄāāti. āI went forth, your majesty, when I was a child and I did not know that I was going forth for this goal. Then, it occurred to me, āThese recluses, Sakyan sons, are wise and they will train me. Now, I have been trained by them, and I know and see that the going forth is for that goal.ā
āKallosi, bhante nÄgasenÄāti. āYou are clever, venerable NÄgasena!ā
PabbajjapaƱho paƱcamo. Going Forth Question fifth