Ja 101 The Story about More than a Hundred Fools
(Parosatajātaka)
In the present the monks are wondering at how Ven. Sāriputta can bring out the hidden meaning of the teachings. The Buddha says that he could do this also in the past, and shows how he had correctly interpreted the last words of one of his disciples in a past life (full story).
1. Parosataṁ ce pi samāgatānaṁ
Jhāyeyyuṁ te vassasataṁ apaññā,
Eko va seyyo puriso sapañño,
Yo bhāsitassa vijānāti atthan-ti.
Of those who gathered, more than a hundred who were unwise might think a hundred years, but one person with wisdom is better, one who knows the meaning of what is said.
This is the meaning: those without wisdom, for a hundred years, might think, might examine, might investigate, but while examining they do not see the meaning or the reason, therefore one who knows the meaning of what is said, one person with wisdom, is much better.