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1. Buddhassaatthinatthibhāvapañha

Question on the Existence or Non-existence of the Buddha

Rājā āha—
The king asked:

“bhante nāgasena, buddho tayā diṭṭho”ti?
“Venerable Nāgasena, have you seen the Buddha?”

“Na hi, mahārājā”ti.
“Certainly not, your majesty.”

“Atha te ācariyehi buddho diṭṭho”ti?
“Then, have your teachers seen the Buddha?”

“Na hi, mahārājā”ti.
“Certainly not, your majesty.”

“Tena hi, bhante nāgasena, natthi buddho”ti.
“Because of this, venerable Nāgasena, there is no Buddha.”

“Kiṁ pana, mahārāja, himavati ūhā nadī tayā diṭṭhā”ti?
“Well then, your majesty, have you seen the River Ūhā in the Himalayas?”

“Na hi, bhante”ti.
“Certainly not, venerable sir.”

“Atha te pitarā ūhā nadī diṭṭhā”ti?
“Then has your father seen the River Ūhā?”

“Na hi, bhante”ti.
“Certainly not, venerable sir.”

“Tena hi, mahārāja, natthi ūhā nadī”ti.
“Because of this, your majesty, there is no River Ūhā.”

“Atthi, bhante, kiñcāpi mayā ūhā nadī na diṭṭhā, pitarāpi me ūhā nadī na diṭṭhā, api ca atthi ūhā nadī”ti.
“There is, venerable sir. Even though the River Ūhā has not been seen by me nor by my father, there is a River Ūhā.”

“Evameva kho, mahārāja, kiñcāpi mayā bhagavā na diṭṭho, ācariyehipi me bhagavā na diṭṭho, api ca atthi bhagavā”ti.
“In the same way, your majesty, even though the Blessed One has not been seen by me nor by my teachers, there is a Blessed One.”

“Kallosi, bhante nāgasenā”ti.
“You are clever, venerable Nāgasena.”

Buddhassa atthinatthibhāvapañho paṭhamo.
Question on the Existence or Non-existence of the Buddha first