The king said: ‘Venerable Nāgasena, does he who does not receive Nirvāṇa know how happy a state Nirvāṇa is ?’

‘Yes, he knows it.’

‘But how can he know that without his receiving Nirvāṇa?’

‘Now what do you think, O king? Do those whose hands and feet have not been cut off know how sad a thing it is to have them cut off?’

‘Yes, Sir, that they know.’

‘But how do they know it?’

‘Well, by hearing the sound of the lamentation of those whose hands and feet have been cut off, they know it.’

‘Just so, great king, it is by hearing the glad words of those who have seen Nirvāṇa, that they who have not received it know how happy a state it is.’

‘Very good, Nāgasena!’

Here ends the Fourth Chapter.