Dhammapada Verse 61
Mahakassapa saddhiviharika Vatthu
Carance nadhigaccheyya
seyyam sadisamattano
ekacariyaram dalham kayira
natthi bale sahayata.
Verse 61: If a person seeking a companion cannot find one who is better than
or equal to him, let him resolutely go on alone; there can be no companionship
with a fool.
The Story of a Resident Pupil of Thera Mahakassapa
While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (61) of
this book, with reference to a resident pupil of Thera Mahakassapa.
When Thera Mahakassapa was residing near Rajagaha, he had two young bhikkhus
staying with him. One of them was respectful, obedient and dutiful to the thera,
but the other one was not. When the old thera chided the latter for his
slackness in his duties, he was very much offended. On one occasion, he went to
the house of a lay-disciple of the thera, and lied to them that the thera was
ill. Thus, he got some choice food from them for the thera; but he ate the food
on the way. When admonished by the thera for this he was extremely angry. The
next day, when the thera was out on his alms-round, the young foolish bhikkhu
stayed behind, broke the pots and pans and set fire to the monastery.
When a bhikkhu from Rajagaha told the Buddha about this, the Buddha said that
it would have been much better for Thera Mahakassapa to live alone than to live
with a foolish companion.
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
Verse 61: If a person seeking a companion cannot find
one who is better than or equal to him, let him resolutely go on
alone; there can be no companionship with a fool.
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At the end of the discourse, the bhikkhu from Rajagaha attained Sotapatti
Fruition.