Dhammapada Verses 260 and 261
Lakundakabhaddiyatthera Vatthu
Na tena thero so hoti
yenassa palitam siro
paripakko vayo tassa
"moghajinno" ti vuccati.
Yamhi saccanca dhammo ca
ahimsa samyamo damo
sa ve vantamalo1 dhiro
"thero2" iti pavuccati.
Verse 260: He is not a thera just because his head is grey; he who is ripe
only in years is called "one grown old in vain".
Verse 261: Only a wise man who comprehends the Four Noble Truths and the
Dhamma, who is harmless and virtuous, who restrains his senses and has rid
himself of moral defilements is indeed called a thera.
1. vantamalo: lit., has vomited impurities.
2. thero: an Elder, i.e., a senior member of the Buddhist Order; but often
applied to bhikkhus in general.
The Story of Thera Bhaddiya
While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verses (260) and
(261) of this book, with reference to Thera Bhaddiya. He was also known as
Lakundaka Bhaddiya because he was very short in stature.
One day, thirty bhikkhus came to pay obeisance to the Buddha. The Buddha knew
that time was ripe for those thirty bhikkhus to attain arahatship. So he asked
them whether they had seen a thera as they came into the room. They answered
that they did not see a thera but they saw only a young samanera as they came
in. Whereupon, the Buddha said to them, "Bhikkhus! That person is not a
samanera, he is a senior bhikkhu although he is small-built and very unassuming.
I do say that one is not a thera just because he is old and looks like a thera;
only he who comprehends the Four Noble Truths and does not harm others is to be
called a thera."
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Verse 260: He is not a thera just because his head
is grey; he who is ripe only in years is called "one grown old in
vain".
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Verse 261: Only a wise man who comprehends the
Four Noble Truths and the Dhamma, who is harmless and virtuous, who
restrains his senses and has rid himself of moral defilements is
indeed called a thera.
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At the end of the discourse those thirty bhikkhus attained arahatship.