From:
MilindapaƱha Milinda's Questions
NibbÄnavagga NibbÄna Chapter
2. NÄgasenapaƱha NÄgasenaās Question
Thero ÄhaāThe elder asked:
āloį¹aį¹, mahÄrÄja, cakkhuviƱƱeyyanāti. āIs salt, your majesty, cognizable by the eye?ā
āÄma, bhante, cakkhuviƱƱeyyanāti. āYes, venerable sir, it is cognizable by the eye.ā
āSuį¹į¹hu kho, mahÄrÄja, jÄnÄhÄ«āti. āThink carefully, your majesty.ā
āKiį¹ pana, bhante, jivhÄviƱƱeyyanāti? āIs it then, venerable sir, cognizable by the tongue?ā
āÄma, mahÄrÄja, jivhÄviƱƱeyyanāti. āYes, your majesty, it is cognizable by the tongue.ā
āKiį¹ pana, bhante, sabbaį¹ loį¹aį¹ jivhÄya vijÄnÄtÄ«āti? āThen, venerable sir, is all salt cognizable by the tongue?ā
āÄma, mahÄrÄja, sabbaį¹ loį¹aį¹ jivhÄya vijÄnÄtiā. āYes, your majesty, all salt is cognizable by the tongue.ā
āYadi, bhante, sabbaį¹ loį¹aį¹ jivhÄya vijÄnÄti, kissa pana taį¹ sakaį¹ehi balÄ«baddÄ Äharanti, nanu loį¹ameva Äharitabbanāti? āIf, venerable sir, all salt is cognizable by the tongue, why then do oxen bring it by the cartload, shouldnāt just salt be brought?ā
āNa sakkÄ, mahÄrÄja, loį¹ameva Äharituį¹ ekatobhÄvagatÄ ete dhammÄ gocaranÄnattagatÄ loį¹aį¹ garubhÄvo cÄti. āIt is not possible to bring just salt, your majesty, since these things arise together with a diversity in their range, and as well, salt has heaviness.
SakkÄ pana, mahÄrÄja, loį¹aį¹ tulÄya tulayitunāti? Is it possible to weigh salt on scales?ā
āÄma, bhante, sakkÄāti. āYes, venerable sir, it is possible.ā
āNa sakkÄ, mahÄrÄja, loį¹aį¹ tulÄya tulayituį¹, garubhÄvo tulÄya tuliyatÄ«āti. āIt is not possible, your majesty, to weigh salt on scales. One weighs the heaviness on scales.ā
āKallosi, bhante nÄgasenÄāti. āYou are clever, venerable NÄgasena.ā
NÄgasenapaƱho dutiyo. NÄgasenaās Question second