• CONTENTS
  • INTRODUCTION
    • The Simhalese version of the Milinda
    • Buddhaghosa's four references to it.
    • MSS. and edition of the text
    • King Milinda the same as Menander
    • Notices of him in classical writers
    • His coins
    • His birthplace, Kalasi, probably = Karisi
    • The author not the same as Nâgârguna
    • Passages in the Pitakas referred to silently
    • Pâli books, &c., referred to by name
    • Pitaka passages quoted
    • Length of the Pitakas
    • Results of these comparisons
    • Differences between our author and the Pitakas
    • Proper names outside the Pitakas
    • Differences of language between our author and the Pitakas
    • The Milinda as a work of art
  • TRANSLATION OF THE TEXT.
    • Book I. The Secular Narrative
      • Description of Sâgala
      • Previous births of Milinda and Nâgasena
      • Milinda's greatness and wisdom and love of disputation
      • Birth story of Nâgasena
      • His admission as a novice into the Order
      • His conversion
      • His attainment of Arahatship
      • Milinda confutes Âyupâla
      • Nâgasena arrives; his character
      • Milinda goes to him
    • Book II. The Distinguishing Characteristics of Ethical Qualities
      • Individuality and name
      • The chariot simile
      • The riddle of seniority
      • (Interlude) How kings and scholars respectively discuss
      • No soul in the breath
      • Aim of Buddhist renunciation
      • Re-incarnation
      • Wisdom and reasoning distinguished
      • 'Virtue's the base'
      • Faith
      • Perseverance
      • Mindfulness
      • Meditation
      • Continued identity and re-individualisation
      • Wisdom and intelligence distinguished
      • Time
      • Origin and development of qualities
      • Is there a soul?
      • Thought and sight
      • Contact, sensation, and idea
    • Book III. The Removal of Difficulties
      • Rich and poor
      • Renunciation again
      • Nirvâna and Karma
      • Difficulties of various kinds as to transmigration, individuality, and the Buddha
    • Book IV. The Solving of Dilemmas
      • Milinda finds dilemmas in the Holy Writ
      • And takes the Buddhist vows
      • Third meeting between him and Nâgasena.
      • 1st Dilemma. If the Buddha has really quite passed away, what is the good of paying honour to his relics?
      • 2nd Dilemma. How can the Buddha be omniscient, when it is said that he reflects?
      • 3rd Dilemma. Why did he admit Devadatta to the Order, if he knew of the schism he would create?
      • 4th Dilemma. Vessantara's earthquake
      • 5th Dilemma. King Sivi
      • 7th Dilemma. Difference in prophecies as to the duration of the faith
      • 8th Dilemma. The Buddha's sinlessness and his sufferings
      • 9th Dilemma. Why should the Buddha have meditated?
      • 10th Dilemma. Why did the Buddha boast?
      • 11th Dilemma. How could the Buddha revoke regulations he had made?
      • 12th Dilemma. Why did the Buddha refuse to answer certain questions?
      • 13th Dilemma. Contradictory statements by the Buddha as to fear
      • 14th Dilemma. How can Pirit cure disease?
      • 15th Dilemma. How could the evil one turn people against the Buddha?
      • 16th Dilemma. Contradiction as to conscious crime
      • 17th Dilemma. Contradiction as to the Buddha's wish to be the chief
      • 18th Dilemma. How could a schism have arisen in the Buddha's life?
      • 19th Dilemma. Why do members of the Order accept reverence?
      • 20th Dilemma. The evil results of preaching
      • 22nd Dilemma. Was not the Buddha once angry with Sudinna?
      • 23rd Dilemma. The tree talking
      • 24th Dilemma. The Buddha's last meal
      • 25th Dilemma. Adoration of relics
      • 26th Dilemma. The splinter of rock
      • 27th Dilemma. Contradictory description of the Samana
      • 28th Dilemma. Buddha's boasting
      • 29th Dilemma. How can the kind punish others?
      • 30th Dilemma. Was not the Buddha angry at Kâtumâ?
      • 31st Dilemma. How could Moggallâna have had miraculous powers seeing that he was murdered?
      • 32nd Dilemma. Why should the rules of the Order be kept secret?
      • 33rd Dilemma. Contradictions about falsehood
      • 34th Dilemma. Did not the Omniscient One once doubt?
      • 35th Dilemma. Suicide
      • 36th Dilemma. Love to all beings
      • 37th Dilemma. Wickedness and prosperity
      • 38th Dilemma. Women's wiles
      • 39th Dilemma. Did not the Arahats once show fear?
      • 40th Dilemma. Did not the Omniscient One once change his mind?
  • Appendix. Devadatta in the Gâtakas
  • Addenda et Corrigenda
  • Index of Proper Names
  • Index of Subjects
  • Transliteration of Oriental Alphabets adopted for the Translations of the Sacred Books of the East