Dhammapada 2.3.p25

2.3.p25

Punekadivasaṃ dhammasabhāyaṃ kathaṃ samuṭṭhāpesuṃ, ‘‘āvuso, cūḷapanthako catūhi māsehi catuppadaṃ gāthaṃ gahetuṃ asakkontopi vīriyaṃ anossajjitvāva arahatte patiṭṭhito, idāni lokuttaradhammakuṭumbassa sāmiko jāto’’ti. Satthā āgantvā, ‘‘kāya nuttha, bhikkhave, etarahi kathāya sannisinnā’’ti pucchitvā, ‘‘imāya nāmā’’ti vutte, ‘‘bhikkhave, mama sāsane āraddhavīriyo bhikkhu lokuttaradhammassa sāmiko hotiyevā’’ti vatvā imaṃ gāthamāha –

Again one day in the Hall of Truth the monks began a discussion: “Brethren, in four months Little Wayman was unable to learn by heart a Stanza of four verses; but because he never relaxed the powers of his will, he became established in Arahatship and has just now become master of wealth that transcends this world.” The Teacher came in and asked, “Monks, what is it that you are sitting here now talking about?” When they told him, he said, “Monks, a monk who exerts all the powers of his will in following the Precepts cannot fail to make himself master of wealth that transcends this world.” So saying, he pronounced the following Stanza,