‘What is the distinguishing characteristic, Nāgasena, of idea (Saññā)?’

‘Recognition, O king. And what does he recognise?—blueness and yellowness and redness and whiteness and brownness.’

‘Give me an illustration.’

‘It is like the king’s treasurer. O king, who when he sees, on entering the treasure, objects the property of the king, of all those colours, recognises (that they have such). Thus it is, great king, that recognition is the mark of idea.’

‘Very good, Nāgasena!’