Dhammapada Verse 152
Laludayi Thera Vatthu
Appassutayam puriso
balibaddova grati
mamsani tassa vaddhanti
panna tassa na vaddhati.
Verse 152: This man of little learning grows old like an ox; only his flesh
grows but not his wisdom.
The Story of Thera Laludayi
While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (152) of
this book, with reference to Laludayi, a thera with little intelligence.
Laludayi was a bhikkhu who was dim-witted and very absent-minded. He could
never say things which were appropriate to the occasion, although he tried hard.
Thus, on joyful and auspicious occasions he would talk about sorrow, and on
sorrowful occasions he would talk about joy and gladness. Besides, he never
realized that he had been saying things which were inappropriate to the
occasion. When told about this, the Buddha said, "One like Laludayi who
has little knowledge is just like an ox."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
| Verse 152: This man of little learning grows old like
an ox; only his flesh grows but not his wisdom.
|