From:
MilindapaƱha Milindaās Questions
ArÅ«padhammavavatthÄnavagga Analysis of Formless Dhammas Chapter
12. SamuddapaƱha Question on the Sea
RÄjÄ ÄhaāThe king asked:
ābhante nÄgasena, āsamuddo samuddoāti vuccati, kena kÄraį¹ena udakaį¹ āsamuddoāti vuccatÄ«āti? āVenerableĀ NÄgasena, it is called āthe sea, the seaā. Why is the water called the sea?ā
Thero ÄhaāThe elder replied,
āyattakaį¹, mahÄrÄja, udakaį¹, tattakaį¹ loį¹aį¹. āJust as much as there is water, your majesty, so much there is salt.
Yattakaį¹ loį¹aį¹, tattakaį¹ udakaį¹. Just as much as there is salt, so much there is water.
TasmÄ āsamuddoāti vuccatÄ«āti. Therefore, it is calledĀ the sea.ā
āKallosi, bhante nÄgasenÄāti. āYou are clever, venerable NÄgasena.ā
SamuddapaƱho dvÄdasamo. Question on the Sea twelfth