352 JOURNAL R. A. ft. (CEYLON). [Vol. III. 



Sixthly. — Oi the supposed identity between the "shadar- 

 hatioa" or the six Arahatwas, in the passage as given by Pro- 

 fessor Wilson, and the six' Tirtakas in the Milindapprapia. 

 If the passage were as given by Professor Wilson, there would 

 doubtless be great reason, especially when viewed in con- 

 nection with other circumstances, to raise a strong presump- 

 tion in favour of the alleged identity. Not the less strong, 

 however, is the presumptive proof of resemblance, when we 

 take the text to mean (in stead of that he denounced the six 

 Tirtakas) that he usually spent six days in the wilderness. 

 For we find, that the passing of six days in the wilderness, 

 was an ascetic rite prescribed by Buddhism. 



The Milindapprasna records the fact, that Nagasena attained 

 the sanctified status of an A'rahat; and we not only learn from 

 the same record, that nirodhi samapatti of passing six days 

 in the wilderness Avas an ascetic rite of the arahat, but the 

 same is also found defined in the Visudlia Mdrga. 



There is, therefore, much coincidence between the facts 

 detailed in the two historical records : and there is also much 

 concurrence between the statement of Nagaseua's having 

 overcome all the disputants of his age, (see the text), and the 

 facts stated in the following stanzas in the lidja Tarangani, 

 which records, 



Tasmin navasare bowddha deshe p r abal at any ay Uh , 

 Nagarajunena sudhiya bodliisatwena palitak. 

 Tewadinah parajittya vadena nildiilanbudhan, 

 Kiriya'n Ni'la puranokta machchindarmaga madvisah. 



" That at that time (in the reign of Abimane) the Buddhas 

 cherished by the wise Bodhisatwa Nagarjiina attained eminence in 

 this country (Kashmira); and that they who were disputants and 

 enemies of the religion, (i.e., the national religion, or of Vedas) 

 overcame all the wise men in argument, and set aside the practices 

 prescribed in the Ni'la purana." 



Having reviewed six grounds, upon which Mr. Tumour 

 has based his observations on the identity between Nagar- 

 juna and Nagasena, I come to the 



