PrologueMilinda was the king in the city of Sāgala. He was learned in the arts and sciences and was of an inquiring disposition. He was skilled in debating and no one could resolve his doubts about religious matters. Though he questioned all the
famous teachers none could satisfy him. Assagutta, one of a large number of Arahants living in the Himalayas, knew of the king’s doubts by means of supernormal power. So he convened an assembly to ask if there was anyone who could answer the king. There was no one, so the whole assembly ascended to the heaven of the thirty-three and requested the god Mahāsena to take birth as a man in
order to protect the religion. One of the monks, Rohana, agreed to go to Kajangalā where Mahāsena had been reborn and wait for him to grow up. The boy’s father, Brahman Sonuttara, had the boy educated in the three Vedas but the boy, Nāgasena, declared: Realising that the boy was ready, Rohana appeared and the parents consented to their son becoming a novice. So, Nāgasena studied the Abhidhamma. After gaining perfect knowledge of the seven books of the Abhidhamma, Nāgasena was admitted to the Order of monks and Rohana sent him to Vattaniya Hermitage to study with Assagutta. While spending the rainy season there, Nāgasena
was asked to preach a sermon to the pious lady who was Assagutta’s supporter. As a result of the discourse both the lady and Nāgasena attained the Eye of the Dhamma, the knowledge that whatsoever has a beginning also has the inherent quality of passing away. Assagutta then sent Nāgasena to Dhammarakkhita at the Asoka Park in Pātaliputta where, within the space of three months, he mastered the remainder of the Tipitaka. Dhammarakkhita admonished his pupil not to be content with mere book
knowledge and the very same night the diligent pupil Nāgasena gained Arahantship. He then went to join the other arahants who were still staying in the Himalayas. Having completed his education Nāgasena was ready to meet anyone in debate. Meanwhile, King Milinda continued his spiritual quest by visiting the bhikkhu Āyupāla at the Samkheyya Hermitage and asked him why the monks renounced
the world. The elder replied, “It is for the sake of being able to live in righteousness and in spiritual calm.” Then the king asked, “Is there, venerable sir, any layman who lives so?” The elder admitted that there were many such laymen, and the king retorted: “Then most venerable Āyupāla, your going forth is of no use. It must be in consequence of sins committed in some former
birth that recluses renounce the world and even subject themselves to the added constraints of one or other of the ascetic practices such as wearing only rag-robes, eating only one meal a day, or not lying down to sleep. There is no virtue therein, no meritorious abstinence, no righteousness of life!” When the king had spoken thus the venerable Āyupāla was silenced and had not a word to
say. Then the five hundred Bactrian Greeks who accompanied the king said, “The elder is learned but he is also diffident, so he makes no reply.” To this the king replied by exclaiming: “All India is an empty thing, it is like chaff. There is no one who is capable of debating with me and dispelling my doubts!” However, the Bactrian Greeks were unmoved so the king asked, “Is there
then, my good men, any other learned sage who is able to discuss things with me and dispel my doubts?” Then the minister Devamantiya said, “There is, Great King, an elder named Nāgasena who is learned, of subdued manners yet full of courage; he is capable of discussing with you. He is now staying at this Samkheyya Hermitage, you should go and put your questions to him.” At the mere
mention of the name ‘Nāgasena’ the king became alarmed and the hairs of his body stood on end. Then the king sent a messenger to say that he was coming. Attended on by the five hundred Bactrian Greeks, the king mounted his royal chariot and went to the place where Nāgasena was staying. |
