Dhammapada 51-52 [Khuddaka Nikaya]

4 - Pupphavagga, Flowers
7 - Chattapani upasaka Vatthu

Yathapi ruciram puppham,
vannavantam agandhakam;
evam subhasita vaca,
aphala hoti akubbato.
Yathapi ruciram puppham,
vannavantam sagandhakam;
evam subhasita vaca,
saphala hoti kubbato.

51: Just as a beautiful flower, lacking in scent, cannot give
the wearer the benefit of its scent, so also, the well-preach-
ed words of the Buddha cannot benefit one who does not
practise the Dhamma.
52: Just as a flower, beautiful as well as fragrant, will give
the wearer the benefit of its scent, so also, the well-preach-
ed words of the Buddha will benefit one who practises the
Dhamma.
Reference:
Mya Tin, Daw, tr. The Dhammapada: Verses and Stories. Rangoon: Burma Tipitaka Association, 1986.

Posted by Nyan U