Khuddakanikāya Dhammapada Dhammaṭṭhavagga Vinicchayamahāmattavatthu Na tena hoti dhammaṭṭho, yenatthaṁ sāhasā naye; Yo ca atthaṁ anatthañca, ubho niccheyya paṇḍito.

The Chapter on Being Established in the Dhamma

One is not established in the Dhamma merely by hastily deciding a matter. A wise person discerns both what is beneficial and what is not.

Asāhasena dhammena, samena nayatī pare; Dhammassa gutto medhāvī, “dhammaṭṭho”ti pavuccati.

By guiding others with fairness and righteousness, without haste, a wise person, protected by the Dhamma, is called one established in the Dhamma.

Chabbaggiyavatthu Na tena paṇḍito hoti, yāvatā bahu bhāsati; Khemī averī abhayo, “paṇḍito”ti pavuccati.

The Story of the Group of Six Disciples

One is not wise simply because one speaks much. A person who is secure, without enmity, and fearless is called wise.

Ekudānakhīṇāsavavatthu Na tāvatā dhammadharo, yāvatā bahu bhāsati; Yo ca appampi sutvāna, dhammaṁ kāyena passati; Sa ve dhammadharo hoti, yo dhammaṁ nappamajjati.

One is not wise simply because one speaks much.

The Story of the One Who Has Destroyed the Defilements

One is not a bearer of the Dhamma merely because one speaks much. One who, having heard even a little, sees the Dhamma with the body and does not neglect it is truly a bearer of the Dhamma.

Lakuṇḍakabhaddiyattheravatthu Na tena thero so hoti, yenassa palitaṁ siro; Paripakko vayo tassa, “moghajiṇṇo”ti vuccati.

The Story of Elder Lakuṇḍaka Bhaddiya

One is not an elder merely because one's head is gray. If one is ripe in age but immature in wisdom, one is called an old fool.

Yamhi saccañca dhammo ca, ahiṁsā saṁyamo damo; Sa ve vantamalo dhīro, “thero” iti pavuccati.

One in whom truth, Dhamma, non-violence, restraint, and discipline are present, who has abandoned impurities, is called an elder.

Sambahulabhikkhuvatthu Na vākkaraṇamattena, vaṇṇapokkharatāya vā; Sādhurūpo naro hoti, issukī maccharī saṭho.

The Story of Several Disciples

One is not noble merely by eloquence or by a beautiful appearance. A person who is envious, stingy, and deceitful is not noble.

Yassa cetaṁ samucchinnaṁ, mūlaghaccaṁ samūhataṁ; Sa vantadoso medhāvī, “sādhurūpo”ti vuccati.

One who has uprooted these qualities, who is wise and free from faults, is called noble. One is not noble merely by eloquence or by a beautiful appearance.

Hatthakavatthu Na muṇḍakena samaṇo, abbato alikaṁ bhaṇaṁ; Icchālobhasamāpanno, samaṇo kiṁ bhavissati.

The Story of Hatthaka

One is not a recluse merely by shaving the head or by speaking falsehoods. One who is overcome by desire and greed cannot be a recluse.

Yo ca sameti pāpāni, aṇuṁthūlāni sabbaso; Samitattā hi pāpānaṁ, “samaṇo”ti pavuccati.

One who has completely subdued both small and large evils is called a recluse.

Aññatarabrāhmaṇavatthu Na tena bhikkhu so hoti, yāvatā bhikkhate pare; Vissaṁ dhammaṁ samādāya, bhikkhu hoti na tāvatā.

The Story of a Certain Brahmin

One is not a disciple merely because one begs from others. One is not a disciple simply by adopting the outward form.

Yodha puññañca pāpañca, bāhetvā brahmacariyavā; Saṅkhāya loke carati, sa ve “bhikkhū”ti vuccati.

One who has abandoned both merit and demerit, who lives the holy life, and who moves through the world with knowing is called a disciple.

Titthiyavatthu Na monena munī hoti, mūḷharūpo aviddasu; Yo ca tulaṁva paggayha, varamādāya paṇḍito.

One is not a disciple merely because one begs from others.

The Story of the Heretics

One is not a sage by silence if one is foolish and ignorant.

Pāpāni parivajjeti, sa munī tena so muni; Yo munāti ubho loke, “muni” tena pavuccati.

A wise person, like one holding a scale, chooses the best and avoids corrupt. Such a person is called a sage because they know both worlds.

Bālisikavatthu Na tena ariyo hoti, yena pāṇāni hiṁsati; Ahiṁsā sabbapāṇānaṁ, “ariyo”ti pavuccati.

The Story of the Fisherman

One is not noble by harming living beings. One who does not harm any living being is called noble.

Sambahulasīlādisampannabhikkhuvatthu Na sīlabbatamattena, bāhusaccena vā pana; Atha vā samādhilābhena, vivittasayanena vā.

The Story of Several Disciples Perfect in Virtue and Other Qualities

One is not a true disciple merely by virtue, vows, much learning, attainment of concentration, or living in solitude.

Phusāmi nekkhammasukhaṁ, aputhujjanasevitaṁ; Bhikkhu vissāsamāpādi, appatto āsavakkhayaṁ. Dhammaṭṭhavaggo ekūnavīsatimo.

A disciple who experiences the bliss of renunciation, not indulged in by ordinary people, and who has not yet reached the destruction of the taints, gains confidence.