Questions and Answers of Milinda
The elder said: "Do you know, great king, what time it is now?" "Yes, venerable sir, I know: 'Now the first watch has passed, the middle watch is proceeding, torches are being lit, four banners have been commanded to go from the treasury as royal gifts.'"
The Greeks said thus: "You are clever, great king, the elder is wise." "Yes, my good men, the elder is wise; if such were the teacher and such as I the disciple, before long a wise person would understand the Teaching." The king, pleased with his answering of questions, having covered the elder Nāgasena with a woollen blanket worth a hundred thousand, said: "Venerable Nāgasena, from this day forth I provide you with eight hundred meals; whatever is allowable in the inner palace, with that I invite you." "Enough, great king, I am living." "I know, Venerable Nāgasena, you are living, but protect yourself and protect me." "How do you protect yourself? Lest the reproach of others should come: 'Nāgasena pleases King Milinda, but did not obtain anything' - thus protect yourself. How do you protect me? Lest the reproach of others should come: 'King Milinda is pleased but does not show a sign of his pleasure' - thus protect me." "Let it be so, great king." "Just as, venerable sir, a lion, the king of beasts, even when placed in a golden cage, faces outward, just so indeed I, venerable sir, although I dwell in a house, I remain facing outward. If I, venerable sir, were to go forth from home into homelessness, I would not live long; I have many enemies."
Then the Venerable Nāgasena, having answered King Milinda's questions, having risen from his seat, went to the monastery. And when the Venerable Nāgasena had recently departed, this occurred to King Milinda: "What was asked by me, what was answered by the venerable Nāgasena?" Then this occurred to King Milinda: "Everything was well asked by me, everything was well answered by the venerable Nāgasena." And to the Venerable Nāgasena too, who had gone to the monastery, this occurred: "What was asked by King Milinda, what was answered by me?" Then this occurred to the Venerable Nāgasena: "Everything was well asked by King Milinda, everything was well answered by me."
Then the Venerable Nāgasena, after that night had passed, having dressed in the earlier period of the day, taking his bowl and robe, approached the dwelling of King Milinda; having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat. Then King Milinda, having paid respect to the Venerable Nāgasena, sat down to one side. Seated to one side, King Milinda said this to the Venerable Nāgasena:
"Let it not be thus for the venerable sir: 'Nāgasena was asked questions by me' - that with that very pleasure you spent the remainder of the night - it should not be seen thus by you. For me, venerable sir, during the remainder of the night, this occurred: 'What was asked by me, what was answered by the venerable sir?' - 'Everything was well asked by me, everything was well answered by the venerable sir.'"
The elder also said thus - "Let not the great king think thus: 'The question was answered by me to King Milinda' - that you spent the remainder of the night with that very pleasure - it should not be seen thus by you. For me, great king, during the remainder of that night, this occurred: 'What was asked by King Milinda, what was answered by me?' - 'All was well asked by King Milinda, all was well answered by me.'" Thus those two great beings gave thanks to each other's well-spoken words.
The Questions and Answers of Milinda's Questions are concluded.