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3. Buddhassaanuttarabhāvajānanapañha

Question on Knowing the Unsurpassed Nature of the Buddha

Rājā āha—
The king asked:

“bhante nāgasena, sakkā jānituṁ ‘buddho anuttaro’”ti?
“Venerable Nāgasena, is it possible to know that the Buddha is unsurpassed?”

“Āma, mahārāja, sakkā jānituṁ ‘bhagavā anuttaro’”ti.
“Yes, your majesty, it is possible to know that the Blessed One is unsurpassed.”

“Kathaṁ, bhante nāgasena, sakkā jānituṁ ‘buddho anuttaro’”ti?
“How, venerable Nāgasena, is it possible to know that the Buddha is unsurpassed?”

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, mahārāja, tissatthero nāma lekhācariyo ahosi, bahūni vassāni abbhatītāni kālaṅkatassa kathaṁ so ñāyatī”ti.
“In the past, your majesty, an elder named Tissa was a teacher of writing and many years have passed since he passed away. How is it that he is still known?”

“Lekhena, bhante”ti.
“By his writing, venerable sir.”

“Evameva kho, mahārāja, yo dhammaṁ passati, so bhagavantaṁ passati, dhammo hi, mahārāja, bhagavatā desito”ti.
“In the same way, your majesty, whoever sees the Dhamma sees the Blessed One, for the Dhamma was taught by the Blessed One.”

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

Buddhassa anuttarabhāvajānanapañho tatiyo.
Question on Knowing the Unsurpassed Nature of the Buddha third