‘What do you think then, O Subhuti, has the highest perfect knowledge been known by the Tathagata through the possession of signs? You should not think so, O Subhuti. And why? Because, O Subhuti, the highest perfect knowledge would not be known by the Tathagata through the possession of signs. Nor should anybody, O Subhuti, say to you that the destruction or annihilation of anything is proclaimed by those who have entered on the path of the Bodhisattvas.’ (27)
And if, O Subhūti, a son or a daughter of a good family were to fill worlds equal to the number of grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā with the seven treasures, and give them as a gift to holy and fully enlightened Tathāgatas; and if a Bodhisattva acquired endurance in selfless and uncreated things, then the latter will on the strength of this produce a larger stock of merit, immeasurable and innumerable.
And if, O Subhūti, a son or a daughter of a good family were to fill worlds equal to the number of grains of sand of the river Gaṅgā with the seven treasures, and give them as a gift to holy and fully enlightened Tathāgatas; and if a Bodhisattva acquired endurance in selfless and uncreated things, then the latter will on the strength of this produce a larger stock of merit, immeasurable and innumerable.
But, O Subhūti, a stock of merit should not be appropriated by a noble-minded Bodhisattva.’ The venerable Subhūti said: ‘Should a stock of merit, O Bhagavat, not be appropriated by a Bodhisattva?’ Bhagavat said: ‘It should be appropriated, O Subhūti; it should not be appropriated; and therefore it is said: It should be appropriated.’ (28)