Dhammapada 19.6

यम्हि सच्चञ्च धम्मो च, अहिंसा संयमो दमो। स वे वन्तमलो धीरो, थेरो इति पवुच्चति॥

yamhi saccanca dhammo ca, ahimsa samyamo damo; sa ve vantamalo dhiro, thero iti pavuccati.

In whom there is truth and Dhamma, non-violence, restraint, and self-control — that wise one, purged of impurities, is truly called an elder.

जिसमें सत्य और धर्म हो, अहिंसा, संयम और इंद्रिय-दम हो — वह मल-वर्जित धीर व्यक्ति 'थेर' कहलाता है।