Dhammapada 19.4.p2

19.4.p2

Ekadivasañhi tasmiṃ there satthu upaṭṭhānaṃ gantvā pakkantamatte tiṃsamattā āraññikā bhikkhū taṃ passantā eva āgantvā satthāraṃ vanditvā nisīdiṃsu. Satthā tesaṃ arahattūpanissayaṃ disvā imaṃ pañhaṃ pucchi – ‘‘ito gataṃ ekaṃ theraṃ passathā’’ti? ‘‘Na passāma, bhante’’ti. ‘‘Kiṃ nu diṭṭho vo’’ti? ‘‘Ekaṃ, bhante, sāmaṇeraṃ passimhā’’ti. ‘‘Na so, bhikkhave, sāmaṇero, thero eva so’’ti? ‘‘Ativiya khuddako, bhante’’ti. ‘‘Nāhaṃ, bhikkhave, mahallakabhāvena therāsane nisinnamattakena theroti vadāmi. Yo pana saccāni paṭivijjhitvā mahājanassa ahiṃsakabhāve ṭhito, ayaṃ thero nāmā’’ti vatvā imā gāthā abhāsi –

For on a certain day this Elder went to wait upon the Teacher. As he departed, Thirty forest monks saw him. The monks went to the Teacher, saluted him, and sat down respectfully on one side. The Teacher, perceiving that they were ripe for Arahatship, asked them

this question, “Did you see a certain Elder leave this place?” “No, Reverend Sir, we did not.” “You did not?” “We saw a certain novice, Reverend Sir.” “Monks, he was no novice; he was an Elder.” “He was exceedingly young, Reverend Sir.” “Monks, I do not call a man an Elder merely because he is old, because he sits in the seat of an Elder; but he who comprehends the Truths and is ever kind to others, he is an Elder indeed.” So saying, he pronounced the following Stanzas,