1848.] A few Gleanings in Buddhism. 617 



My copy is evidently an abridged one, for in many places the titles 

 and heads of chapters, and their sub-divisions, only, are given, yet it 

 contains 150 folio pages. The introduction to it informs us that "the 

 Mili (n) thara contains one thousand and one K'hat'ha or chapters." 



Raja Milin is further therein stated to have nourished in the period 

 of Kassyapo Buddho, or the third Buddha, Sakya's immediate predeces- 

 sor. His preceptor was Naghasena a [Buddhist] priest. At this time 

 he was son of Athitcha Wangsa, king of Sakhala or Sagala Nagara. 

 The youth had many angry discussions with his tutor, who was over- 

 rigorous in his discipline. Both died in the usual course of nature, and 

 were born again. 



In the year 500 of the Era of Buddho (B. C. 43) Milin was born 

 again, as king of Sak'hala. Nagasena was likewise born again, but 

 many years later than Milin, and in time became an officiating priest 

 (of Buddha) and at this latter period Milin had reached a rather ad- 

 vanced stage of life. 



This priest is further known under the titles 



Wirasena, fAtiong papang nakarotiti nak'ho. 



Surasena, J Senti sayanti ete nawat'ha pachat'hikachanati seno. 

 and I Nak'ho chaso senochati nakhaseno. 



Sihasena, (^Sila khand'ha t'hihi t'hara titi t'hero. 



Milin and Nakhasena had a second time left the earth, when a learned 

 priest named Maha Pitaka Chula bhaya thera composed this Book, 

 (Milinthara,) purporting to be dialogues betwixt Milin and his said 

 preceptor. 



The priest it is added, was considered to have had the best of the 

 argument owing to his former metempsychological abode having been 

 in one of the heavens. 



When king Milinthara (last) appeared, the fame of his learning 

 alarmed the priesthood [Buddhist] who could not brook a rival. From 

 this we might infer that Milintha was not a Buddhist. With this feel- 

 ing one of the Arahanta who resided on the hill Yok'huntara, one of the 

 seven hills of Meru, hurried off to the heaven of Indra, or Tavatinsa, and 

 besought Nakhasena, who was then a Devata, to visit (or revisit) the 

 earth in order to dash the spiritual arrogance of Raja Milintha. These 

 Arahanta were 80,000 in number, and their chief was named Assak'hutta 

 Thero (before alluded to). 



4 m 2 



