यूनानी सम्राट् मिलिन्द तथा बौद्ध भिक्षु नागसेन का आर्यसत्य विषयक दार्शनिक संवाद

Summary

The Milindapañha records a series of dialogues between King Milinda (the Indo‑Greek ruler Menander) and the Buddhist monk Nāgasena, and this Hindi article revisits one of their exchanges concerning the Four Noble Truths (āryasatya). The author recounts how Milinda questions the nature of suffering, its origin, cessation and the path leading thereto, pressing Nāgasena to clarify doctrinal subtleties. Nāgasena responds with analogies – likening the arising of suffering to the sprouting of a seed – and emphasises the role of dependent origination. The paper analyses the pedagogical method employed: Nāgasena encourages critical inquiry and uses everyday examples to illustrate profound teachings. It situates the dialogue within the broader context of cross‑cultural encounters, noting that Milinda represents Hellenistic scepticism while Nāgasena embodies Buddhist scholasticism. By engaging in respectful debate, the two figures exemplify how philosophical dialogue can bridge cultural divides. The article concludes that the Milindapañha remains a valuable resource for understanding early Buddhist doctrine and its reception in a cosmopolitan world.