Nagasena's Enlightenment and Teachings : หน้า 32/105

After listening to Rohana, Nagasena was impressed with what Rohana had to say and thus he desired to learn more about the Buddha's teachings. Nagasena then asked for permission from his parents to be ordained as a novice. After the permission was granted, he was ordained under the supervision of Rohana, continued to practice the teachings of the Buddha, and became an enlightened being in a very short period of time. Having lived a life of purity from the age of seven, and faithfully studying and practicing the teachings of the Buddha, not only did Nagasena rid himself of worldly desire and become an enlightened one, he also became well versed in Buddhist knowledge and very adept at giving sermons. Nagasena's sermons were so effective in preaching people that even King Milinda the great ruler during that time, upon hearing Nagasena, gave up his riches and was ordained to become a holy one himself. King Milinda was lost in his belief that he was smarter than anyone else. He always asked people he came into contact with, such as novices from different faith, and even holy ones, questions about the Dhamma, often to the point of embarrassment, as he asked questions they were not able to answer. However, after meeting Nagasena, he was unable to corner him on any questions. The more he asked questions, the more he felt the wisdom of Nagasena, and in turn he sought to become Nagasena's disciple. The news of King Milinda's encounter with Nagasena quickly spread throughout the land during that time. "The Questions of King Milinda," is a book that recorded some of the questions and answers that the two debated. The Importance of Ordination 31