Dhammapada Verse 403
Khemabhikkhuni Vatthu
Gambhirapannam medhavim
maggamaggassa kovidam1
uttamattha manuppattam
tamaham brumi brahmanam.
Verse 403: Him I call a brahmana, who is wise
and is profound in his knowledge, who knows the right way from the wrong way,
and who has attained the highest goal (i.e., arahatship).
1. maggamaggassa kovidam: skilful in
differentiating the right way from the wrong way, i.e., knowledge of what does
and what does not lead to the realization of Nibbana.
The Story of Theri Khema*
While residing at the Gijjhakuta
hill, the Buddha uttered Verse (403) of this book, with reference to Theri Khema.
One night, Sakka, king of the
devas, came with his followers to pay homage to the Buddha. While they were with
the Buddha, Theri Khema, by her supernormal power, also came through the sky to
pay homage to the Buddha. But because Sakka and his company were there with the
Buddha, she just paid obeisance to the Buddha, and soon left him. Sakka asked
the Buddha who that bhikkhuni was and the Buddha replied, "She is one of
my pre-eminent disciples; she is known as Theri Khema. She is matchless amongst
the bhikkhunis in wisdom and she knows how to differentiate the right way from
the wrong way."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as
follows:
| Verse 403: Him I call
a brahmana, who is wise and is profound in his knowledge, who knows
the right way from the wrong way, and who has attained the highest
goal (i.e., arahatship). |
* See also Verse 347: The
Story of Theri Khema, Chapter XXIV.