Mil 3.4.7
7. Question on the Bearing Up of the Earth
7. Pathavisandhārakapañha
from: Nibbāna Chapter
7. Question on the Bearing Up of the Earth
The king said: “Venerable Nāgasena, you say this great earth is established on water, water is established on air, and air is established on space. I do not believe this assertion.” The elder took some water in a water vessel and explained to King Milinda, “Just as, your majesty, this water is supported by the air, so too is that water supported by air.”
“You are clever, Venerable Nāgasena!”
Question on the Bearing Up of the Earth seventh
7. Pathavisandhārakapañha
Rājā āha— “bhante nāgasena, tumhe bhaṇatha— ‘ayaṁ mahā pathavī udake patiṭṭhitā, udakaṁ vāte patiṭṭhitaṁ, vāto ākāse patiṭṭhito’ti, etampi vacanaṁ na saddahāmī”ti. Thero dhammakarakena udakaṁ gahetvā rājānaṁ milindaṁ saññāpesi— “yathā, mahārāja, imaṁ udakaṁ vātena ādhāritaṁ, evaṁ tampi udakaṁ vātena ādhāritan”ti.
“Kallosi, bhante nāgasenā”ti.
Pathavisandhārakapañho sattamo.