Mil 3.6.4
4. Celibacy of the Blessed One Question
4. Bhagavatobrahmacāripañha
from: Mindfulness Chapter
4. Celibacy of the Blessed One Question
The king asked: “Venerable Nāgasena, was the Buddha a Brahma-farer (celibate)?” “Yes, your majesty, the Buddha was celibate.” “Well then, Venerable Nāgasena, was the Buddha a student of Brahmā?” “But, your majesty, do you have a chief elephant?” “Yes, venerable sir, I do.” “And does this elephant, your majesty, roar the ‘Heron’s roar’ from time to time?” “Yes, venerable sir, he does.” “Well then, your majesty, is this elephant a student of the heron?” “Certainly not, venerable sir.” “Was Brahmā, your majesty, one with intelligence or without?” “With intelligence, venerable sir.” “Well then, your majesty, Brahmā was a student of the Blessed One.”
“You are clever, Venerable Nāgasena!”
Celibacy of the Blessed One Question fourth
4. Bhagavatobrahmacāripañha
Rājā āha— “bhante nāgasena, buddho brahmacārī”ti? “Āma, mahārāja, bhagavā brahmacārī”ti. “Tena hi, bhante nāgasena, buddho brahmuno sisso”ti? “Atthi pana te, mahārāja, hatthipāmokkho”ti? “Atthi, bhante”ti. “Kiṁ nu kho, mahārāja, so hatthī kadāci karahaci koñcanādaṁ nadatī”ti? “Āma, bhante, nadatī”ti. “Tena hi, mahārāja, so hatthī koñcasakuṇassa sisso”ti? “Na hi, bhante”ti. “Kiṁ pana, mahārāja, brahmā sabuddhiko abuddhiko”ti? “Sabuddhiko, bhante”ti. “Tena hi, mahārāja, brahmā bhagavato sisso”ti.
“Kallosi, bhante nāgasenā”ti.
Bhagavato brahmacāripañho catuttho.