Mil 3.7.12
12. Question on the Sea
12. Samuddapañha
from: Analysis of Formless Dhammas Chapter
12. Question on the Sea
The king asked: “Venerable Nāgasena, it is called ‘the sea, the sea’. Why is the water called the sea?” The elder replied, “Just as much as there is water, your majesty, so much there is salt. Just as much as there is salt, so much there is water. Therefore, it is called the ‘sea’.”
“You are clever, Venerable Nāgasena!”
Question on the Sea twelfth
12. Samuddapañha
Rājā āha— “bhante nāgasena, ‘samuddo samuddo’ti vuccati, kena kāraṇena udakaṁ ‘samuddo’ti vuccatī”ti? Thero āha— “yattakaṁ, mahārāja, udakaṁ, tattakaṁ loṇaṁ. Yattakaṁ loṇaṁ, tattakaṁ udakaṁ. Tasmā ‘samuddo’ti vuccatī”ti.
“Kallosi, bhante nāgasenā”ti.
Samuddapañho dvādasamo.