EN
At Sāvatthī. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!” “Venerable sir,” they replied.
PL
Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti. “Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.
Well-Spoken Words
Subhāsitasutta
EN
The Buddha said this: “Mendicants, speech that has four factors is well spoken, not poorly spoken. It’s blameless and is not criticized by sensible people. What four? It’s when a mendicant speaks well, not poorly; their speech is principled, not unprincipled; they speak pleasantly, not unpleasantly; and they speak truthfully, not falsely.
PL
Bhagavā etadavoca: “Catūhi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgatā vācā subhāsitā hoti, no dubbhāsitā; anavajjā ca ananuvajjā ca viññūnaṁ. Katamehi catūhi? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu subhāsitaṁyeva bhāsati no dubbhāsitaṁ, dhammaṁyeva bhāsati no adhammaṁ, piyaṁyeva bhāsati no appiyaṁ, saccaṁyeva bhāsati no alikaṁ.
EN
Speech with these four factors is well spoken, not poorly spoken. It’s blameless and is not criticized by sensible people.” That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say: “Good people say well-spoken words are foremost;
PL
Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi aṅgehi samannāgatā vācā subhāsitā hoti, no dubbhāsitā, anavajjā ca ananuvajjā ca viññūnan”ti. Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā: “Subhāsitaṁ uttamamāhu santo,
EN
second, speech ought be principled, not unprincipled; third, speak pleasantly, not unpleasantly; and fourth, speak truthfully, not falsely.” Then Venerable Vaṅgīsa rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha, and said,
PL
Dhammaṁ bhaṇe nādhammaṁ taṁ dutiyaṁ; Piyaṁ bhaṇe nāppiyaṁ taṁ tatiyaṁ, Saccaṁ bhaṇe nālikaṁ taṁ catutthan”ti. Atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
EN
“I feel inspired to speak, Blessed One! I feel inspired to speak, Holy One!” “Then speak as you feel inspired,” said the Buddha. Then Vaṅgīsa extolled the Buddha in his presence with fitting verses: “Speak only those words
PL
“paṭibhāti maṁ, bhagavā, paṭibhāti maṁ, sugatā”ti. “Paṭibhātu taṁ, vaṅgīsā”ti bhagavā avoca. Atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso bhagavantaṁ sammukhā sāruppāhi gāthāhi abhitthavi: “Tameva vācaṁ bhāseyya,
EN
that do not hurt yourself nor harm others; such speech is truly well spoken. Speak only pleasing words,
PL
yāyattānaṁ na tāpaye; Pare ca na vihiṁseyya, sā ve vācā subhāsitā. Piyavācaṁva bhāseyya,
EN
words gladly welcomed. Pleasing words are those that bring nothing bad to others. Truth itself is undying speech:
PL
yā vācā paṭinanditā; Yaṁ anādāya pāpāni, paresaṁ bhāsate piyaṁ. Saccaṁ ve amatā vācā,
EN
this is an ancient teaching. Good people say the teaching and meaning are grounded in truth. The words spoken by the Buddha
PL
esa dhammo sanantano; Sacce atthe ca dhamme ca, āhu santo patiṭṭhitā. Yaṁ buddho bhāsate vācaṁ,
EN
for finding the sanctuary, extinguishment, for making an end of suffering: this really is the best kind of speech.”
PL
khemaṁ nibbānapattiyā; Dukkhassantakiriyāya, sā ve vācānamuttamā”ti.
Sutraya