Nagasena Bhiksu Sutra 2.36

T 1670B Nāgasena Bhikṣu Sūtra

Part 2: Dialogues 2.36. The Taste of Salt

The king again asked Nāgasena, “Can a man know the taste of salt with his eyes?”

Nāgasena said, “Great king, you know whether one can know the taste of the salt with his eyes.”

Then the king said, “The eyes do not know the taste of the salt.”

Nāgasena said, “A man knows the taste of salt by his tongue, not by his eyes.”

“Do all people know the taste by their tongue?”

“People all distinguish different tastes by their tongues”

The king asked, “Is the taste of all salt to be known and distinguished only by the tongue?”

“Yes, the taste of all salt is to be known and distinguished by the tongue.”

“There is salt brought by chariots and there is also salt brought by cows, can the chariots and cows know the taste of salt?”

“The chariot and the cow cannot know the taste of the salt.”

“Can the taste of salt be weighed?” asked the king.

“Is it the king’s knowledge to weigh the taste of salt?”

Then the king replied, “The taste of salt cannot be weighed, but the weight of salt can be weighed.”

“Excellent, Nāgasena.”