Dhammapada

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Selo yathā ekaghano, vātena na samīrati; Evaṃ nindāpasaṃsāsu, na samiñjanti paṇḍitā.

Grammar

This verse contains two related sentences. They form the first and second lines of the verse respectively. In the first sentence, the subject is the noun selo (rock, nominative singular). It has an attribute, the adjective ekaghano (compact, nominative singular). The verb is samīrati (is moved, 3rd person, singular, active, indicative, present tense). It is negated by the negative particle na (not). The verb has the noun vātena (by the wind, instrumental singular) as an attribute. The relative adverb yathā (just like) connects this sentence to the following one. The subject of the second sentence is the noun paṇḍitā (wise ones, nominative plural). The verb is samiñjanti (are shaken, 3rd person, plural, active, indicative, present tense) negated by the negative particle na (not). It has an attribute, the compound nindāpasaṃsāsu (in the blame or praise, locative plural). The adverb evaṃ (thus) connects this sentence to the previous one.

Commentary

At the Jetavana monastery lived a monk named Bhaddiya. Because he was very short, other monks would often tease him. Younger monks would pull his nose or pat him on the head and ask, "Uncle, how are you? Are you bored with your life as a monk?"But Bhaddiya was extremely good-natured and he never retaliated in anger. Somebody once mentioned Bhaddiya's patience in front of the Buddha. The Buddha replied by this verse and he added, that Arahants are like that - they never loose temper for whatever reason. They are like mountain rocks - unmovable by the "wind" of praise or blame. Only then did the other monks understand, that this funny short Bhaddiya was actually an Arahant.