Nibbānalabhanapañha

Milindapañha

Milinda’s Questions

Nibbānavagga

Nibbāna Chapter

9. Nibbānalabhanapañha

9. Question on the Attaining of Nibbāna

Rājā āha—

The king asked:

“bhante nāgasena, sabbeva labhanti nibbānan”ti?

“Venerable Nāgasena, does everyone attain nibbāna?”

“Na kho, mahārāja, sabbeva labhanti nibbānaṁ, api ca kho, mahārāja, yo sammā paṭipanno abhiññeyye dhamme abhijānāti, pariññeyye dhamme parijānāti, pahātabbe dhamme pajahati, bhāvetabbe dhamme bhāveti, sacchikātabbe dhamme sacchikaroti, so labhati nibbānan”ti.

“Not everyone, your majesty, attains nibbāna. Whoever, practicing rightly, directly knows those things which should be directly known, completely comprehends those things that should be completely comprehended, abandons those things that should be abandoned, develops those things that should be developed, personally realises those things that should be personally realised, that one attains nibbāna.”

“Kallosi, bhante nāgasenā”ti.

“You are clever, Venerable Nāgasena!”

Nibbānalabhanapañho navamo.

Question on the Attaining of Nibbāna ninth