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6.2.7. Dilemma the Sixty-Seventh. Dead Demons

Mil 6.2.7

An earthen path through a sheltered grove in warm afternoon light.

PTS cs 19 ‘Venerable Nāgasena, are there such things as demons (Yakkhā) in the world?’

‘Yes, O king.’

‘Do they ever leave that condition’ (fall out of that phase of existence)?

‘Yes, they do.’

‘But, if so, why is it that the remains of those dead Yakkhas are never found, nor any odour of their corpses smelt? ’

‘PTS vp Pali 272 Their remains are found, O king, and an odour does arise from their dead bodies. The remains of bad Yakkhas can be seen in the form of PTS vp En 109 worms and beetles and ants and moths and snakes and scorpions and centipedes, and birds and wild beasts.’

‘Who else, O Nāgasena, could have solved this puzzle except one as wise as you!’

Here ends the dilemma as to dead demons.

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About this edition

Translation by T.W. Rhys Davids · SuttaCentral · Public domain

The source expressly identifies this translation as public domain.

The Questions of King Milinda, translated from the Pali by T.W. Rhys Davids.

Part 1 (to section 5.4.10) was originally published as Volume xxxv of “The Sacred Books of the East”, Oxford, The Clarendon Press, 1890.

Part 2 (from section 5.5.1) was originally published as Volume xxxvi of “The Sacred Books of the East”, Oxford, The Clarendon Press, 1894.

This SuttaCentral edition was prepared by Bhikkhu Sujato based on the digital text of the Internet Sacred Text Archive. The work of the Sacred Text Archive to make this text publically available is gratefully acknowledged.

In preparing this edition minor editorial changes have been made. The structure has been adapted to agree with the Mahāsaṅgīti Pali text as found on SuttaCentral. In addition, the corrections proposed by the translator in the “Addenda et Corrigenda” of the original editions have for the most part been adopted.

This text is in the public domain. You are free to do whatever you wish with it.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Bhikkhu Sujato.

Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.

The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.