Dhammapada Verse 65
Timsapaveyyakabhikkhu Vatthu
Muhuttamapi ce vinnu
panditam payirupasati
khippam dhammam vijanati
jivha suparasam yatha.
Verse 65: An intelligent man, even though he is associated with a wise man
only for a moment, quickly understands the Dhamma, just as the tongue knows the
taste of soup.
The Story of Thirty Bhikkhus from Paveyyaka
While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (65) of
this book, with reference to thirty bhikkhus from Paveyyaka.
Thirty youths from Paveyyaka were, on one occasion, enjoying themselves with
a prostitute in a forest, when the prostitute stole some of their valuable
ornaments and ran away. While searching for her in the forest, they met the
Buddha on the way. As the Buddha delivered them a discourse the youths attained
Sotapatti Fruition, and all of them joined the Order of the Buddha and followed
him to the Jetavana monastery. While staying at the monastery, they strictly
observed the austerity or purification practice (dhutanga). Later, when
the Buddha delivered the Anamatagga Sutta (Discourse on Countless
Existences), all those bhikkhus attained arahatship.
When other bhikkhus commented that Paveyyaka bhikkhus were very quick in
attaining arahatship, the Buddha replied to them in verse, as follows:
Verse 65: An intelligent man, even though he is
associated with a wise man only for a moment, quickly understands the
Dhamma, just as the tongue knows the taste of soup.
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