Verse 152

Dhammapada Verse 152

The Story of Thera Laludayi

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:

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.