118 THE VAGRAKKHEDIKÂ
they would believe in a being, they would believe in a living being, they would believe in a person. And why? Because, O Subhûti, neither quality nor no- quality is to be accepted by a noble-minded Bodhi- sattva. Therefore this hidden saying has been preached by the Tathâgata : " By those who know the teaching of the Law, as like unto a raft, all qualities indeed must be abandoned; much more no-qualities 1."' (6)
VII.
And again Bhagavat spoke thus to the venerable Subhûti : 'What do you think, O Subhûti, is there anything (dharma) that was known by the Tathâgata under the name of the highest perfect knowledge, or anything that was taught by the Tathâgata?'
After these words, the venerable Subhûti spoke thus to Bhagavat: 'As I, O Bhagavat, understand the meaning of the preaching of the Bhagavat, there is nothing that was known by the Tathâgata under the name of the highest perfect knowledge, nor is there anything that is taught by the Tathâgata. And why? Because that thing which was known or taught by the Tathâgata is incomprehensible and inexpressible. It is neither a thing nor no-thing. And why? Because the holy persons 2 are of im- perfect power 3.' (7)
1 The same line is quoted in the Abhidharmakosha-vyâkhyâ.
2 Âryapudgala need not be Bodhisattvas, but all who have entered on the path leading to Nirvâna.
• Harlez: 'Parceque les entités supérieures sont produites telles sans être réelles et parfaites pour cela.' If samskrita can be used in Buddhist literature in the sense of perfect, and prabhâvitâ as power, my translation might pass, but even then the ' because ' remains difficult.
Digitized by
