Mil 3.7.10
10. Question on Long Bones
10. Dīghaṭṭhipañha
from: Analysis of Formless Dhammas Chapter
10. Question on Long Bones
The king asked: “Venerable Nāgasena, you say thus, ‘There are long bones extending one hundred yojanas.’ Since there is no tree extending that far, how then could there be long bones extending one hundred yojanas?”
“What do you think, your majesty, have you heard that in the great ocean there are fish extending for five hundred yojanas?” “Yes, venerable sir, I have heard so.” “Is it not, your majesty, that the long bones of such a fish would extend for a hundred yojanas?”
“You are clever, Venerable Nāgasena!”
Question on Long Bones tenth
10. Dīghaṭṭhipañha
Rājā āha— “bhante nāgasena, tumhe evaṁ bhaṇatha— ‘aṭṭhikāni dīghāni yojanasatikānipī’ti, rukkhopi tāva natthi yojanasatiko, kuto pana aṭṭhikāni dīghāni yojanasatikāni bhavissantī”ti?
“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, sutaṁ te ‘mahāsamudde pañcayojanasatikāpi macchā atthī’”ti? “Āma, bhante, sutan”ti. “Nanu, mahārāja, pañcayojanasatikassa macchassa aṭṭhikāni dīghāni bhavissanti yojanasatikānipī”ti?
“Kallosi, bhante nāgasenā”ti.
Dīghaṭṭhipañho dasamo.