Whoso was heedless formerly
but later lives with heedfulness
illuminates the world
as moon when free of clouds.
Explanation: An individual may have been deluded in the past. But later corrects his thinking and becomes a disillusioned person. He, therefor, is like the moon that has come out from behind a dark cloud; thus, he illuminates the world.
The Story of Venerable Sammunjani (Verse 172)
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this Verse, with reference to Venerable Sammunjani.
Venerable Sammunjani spent most of his time sweeping the precincts of the monastery. At that time, Venerable Revata was also staying at the monastery: unlike Sammunjani, Venerable Revata spent most of his time in meditation or deep mental absorption. Seeing Venerable Revata’s behaviour, Venerable Sammunjani thought the other monk was just idling away his time. Thus, one day Sammunjani went to Venerable Revata and said to him, “You are being very lazy, living on the food offered out of faith and generosity: don’t you think you should sometimes sweep the floor or the compound or some other place?” To him, Venerable Revata replied, “Friend, a monk should not spend all his time sweeping. He should sweep early in the morning, then go out on the alms-round. After the meal, contemplating his body he should try to perceive the true nature of the aggregates, or else, recite the texts until nightfall. Then he can do the sweeping again if he so wishes.” Venerable Sammunjani strictly followed the advice given by Venerable Revata and soon attained arahatship.
Other monks noticed some rubbish piling up in the compound and they asked Sammunjani why he was not sweeping as much as he used to, and he replied, “When I was not mindful, I was all the time sweeping: but now I am no longer unmindful.” When the monks heard his reply, they were skeptical: so they went to the Buddha and said, ” Venerable! Venerable Sammufvjani falsely claims himself to be an arahat: he is telling lies” To them the Buddha said, “Sammufvjani has indeed attained arahatship: he is telling the truth.”