Dhammapada Verses 262 and 263
Sambahulabhikkhu Vatthu
Na vakkaranamattena
vannapokkharataya va
sadhurupo naro hoti
issuki macchari satho.
Yassa cetam samucchinnam
mulaghaccam samuhatam
sa vantadoso medhavi
"sadhurupo" ti vuccati.
Verse 262: Not by fine talk, nor by good looks could one be a good-hearted
man, if he were envious, miserly and crafty.
Verse 263: A wise man who has cut off, uprooted and removed these and has rid
himself of moral defilements is indeed called a good-hearted man.
The Story of Some Bhikkhus
While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verses (262) and
(263) of this book, with reference to some bhikkhus who were very envious of
other bhikkhus.
At the monastery, young bhikkhus and samaneras were in the habit of attending
on older bhikkhus who were their teachers. They washed and dyed the robes, or
else performed other small services for their teachers. Some bhikkhus noticing
these services envied those senior bhikkhus, and so they thought out a plan that
would benefit them materially. Their plan was that they would suggest to the
Buddha that young bhikkhus and samaneras should be required to come to them for
further instruction and guidance even though they had been taught by their
respective teachers. When they went to the Buddha with this proposal, the
Buddha, knowing full well their motive, turned it down. To them the Buddha said,
"Bhikkhus I do not say that you are good-hearted just because you can
talk eloquently. Only he who has got rid of covetousness and all that is evil by
means of Arahatta Magga is to be called a good-hearted man."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
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Verse 262: Not by fine talk, nor by good looks
could one be a good-hearted man, if he were envious, miserly and
crafty.
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Verse 263: A wise man who has cut off, uprooted
and removed these and has rid himself of moral defilements is indeed
called a good-hearted man.
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