Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then a certain bhikkhu approached the Blessed One. Having drawn near, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, that bhikkhu said to the Blessed One:
“‘dhammavihārī, dhammavihārī’ti, bhante, vuccati. Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, bhikkhu dhammavihārī hotī”ti?
“Venerable sir, it is said ‘one who dwells in the Dhamma, one who dwells in the Dhamma.’ To what extent, venerable sir, is a bhikkhu one who dwells in the Dhamma?”
“Idha, bhikkhu, bhikkhu dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇāti— suttaṁ, geyyaṁ, veyyākaraṇaṁ, gāthaṁ, udānaṁ, itivuttakaṁ, jātakaṁ, abbhutadhammaṁ, vedallaṁ; uttari cassa paññāya atthaṁ nappajānāti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhu: ‘bhikkhu pariyattibahulo, no dhammavihārī’.
1.) Here, a bhikkhu |thoroughly learns::studies well, masters [pariyāpuṇāti]| the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|—discourses, mixed prose and verse, expositions, verses, inspired utterances, sayings, birth stories, marvelous accounts, and questions-and-answers. But he does not |discern::distinguish, understand, know clearly [pajānāti]| its supreme meaning with wisdom. [1] This bhikkhu is called one who is devoted to learning, not one who dwells in the Dhamma.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhu, bhikkhu yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ vitthārena paresaṁ deseti, uttari cassa paññāya atthaṁ nappajānāti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhu: ‘bhikkhu paññattibahulo, no dhammavihārī’.
2.) Furthermore, a bhikkhu teaches the Dhamma to others in detail as he has heard and thoroughly learned it. But he does not discern its supreme meaning with wisdom. This bhikkhu is called one who is devoted to teaching, not one who dwells in the Dhamma.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhu, bhikkhu yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ vitthārena sajjhāyaṁ karoti, uttari cassa paññāya atthaṁ nappajānāti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhu: ‘bhikkhu sajjhāyabahulo, no dhammavihārī’.
3.) Furthermore, a bhikkhu recites the Dhamma in detail as he has heard and thoroughly learned it. But he does not discern its supreme meaning with wisdom. This bhikkhu is called one who is devoted to reciting, not one who dwells in the Dhamma.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhu, bhikkhu yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ cetasā anuvitakketi anuvicāreti manasānupekkhati, uttari cassa paññāya atthaṁ nappajānāti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhu: ‘bhikkhu vitakkabahulo, no dhammavihārī’.
4.) Furthermore, a bhikkhu ponders over, re-examines, and mentally investigates the Dhamma as he has heard and thoroughly learned it. But he does not discern its supreme meaning with wisdom. This bhikkhu is called one who is devoted to pondering, not one who dwells in the Dhamma.
Idha, bhikkhu, bhikkhu dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇāti— suttaṁ, geyyaṁ, veyyākaraṇaṁ, gāthaṁ, udānaṁ, itivuttakaṁ, jātakaṁ, abbhutadhammaṁ, vedallaṁ; uttari cassa paññāya atthaṁ pajānāti. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhu, bhikkhu dhammavihārī hoti.
5.) Here, a bhikkhu thoroughly learns the Dhamma—discourses, mixed prose and verse, expositions, verses, inspired utterances, sayings, birth stories, marvelous accounts, and questions-and-answers. And he discerns its supreme meaning with wisdom. In this way, a bhikkhu is one who dwells in the Dhamma.
Iti kho, bhikkhu, desito mayā pariyattibahulo, desito paññattibahulo, desito sajjhāyabahulo, desito vitakkabahulo, desito dhammavihārī. Yaṁ kho, bhikkhu, satthārā karaṇīyaṁ sāvakānaṁ hitesinā anukampakena anukampaṁ upādāya, kataṁ vo taṁ mayā. Etāni, bhikkhu, rukkhamūlāni, etāni suññāgārāni. Jhāyatha bhikkhu, mā pamādattha, mā pacchā vippaṭisārino ahuvattha. Ayaṁ vo amhākaṁ anusāsanī”ti.
So, bhikkhu, I have taught one who is devoted to learning, I have taught one who is devoted to teaching, I have taught one who is devoted to reciting, I have taught one who is devoted to pondering, and I have taught one who dwells in the Dhamma. Whatever should be done by a teacher seeking the welfare of his disciples, out of compassion|,::::;| that I have done for you|, bhikkhu.::::.| Here are the roots of trees|, bhikkhu;::::;| here are the empty huts. Meditate, bhikkhu, do not be negligent. Do not be |regretful::remorseful; lit. remembering back negatively [vippaṭisārī]| later. This is our instruction to you.”
Per MP: “does not discern its supreme meaning with wisdom” means that he does not understand the meaning of that Dhamma, which is higher than the mere learning (pariyatti), by means of the wisdom of the path together with penetrative vision (vipassanā). That is, he does not see the Four Noble Truths, nor does he penetrate them.