3.3. The Well-spoken

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

eka samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

“bhikkhavo”ti.

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgatā vācā subhāsitā hoti, na 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.

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,

Dhammaṁ bhaṇe nādhammaṁ taṁ dutiyaṁ;

Piyaṁ bhaṇe nāppiyaṁ taṁ tatiyaṁ,

Saccaṁ bhaṇe nālikaṁ taṁ catutthan”ti.

Atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ cīvaraṁ katvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“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,

yāyattānaṁ na tāpaye;

Pare ca na vihiṁseyya,

sā ve vācā subhāsitā.

Piyavācameva bhāseyya,

yā vācā paṭinanditā;

Yaṁ anādāya pāpāni,

paresaṁ bhāsate piyaṁ.

Saccaṁ ve amatā vācā,

esa dhammo sanantano;

Sacce atthe ca dhamme ca,

āhu santo patiṭṭhitā.

Yaṁ buddho bhāsati vācaṁ,

Khemaṁ nibbānapattiyā;

Dukkhassantakiriyāya,

Sā ve vācānamuttamā”ti.

Subhāsitasuttaṁ tatiyaṁ.

SC 1Thus have I heard:

SC 2At one time the Radiant One dwelt at Sāvatthī, in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. The Radiant One spoke thus: “Bhikkhus”.

SC 3“Venerable Sir”, those bhikkhus replied.

SC 4“Speech having four qualities is well-spoken, not ill-spoken, and blameless, not blameworthy, among the wise. What four? Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu speaks only what is well-spoken, not what is ill-spoken; what is Dharma, not what is not-Dharma; what is kindly, not what is unkind; what is the truth, not what is false. This speech is well-spoken, not ill-spoken, and blameless, not blameworthy among the wise.”

SC 5This is what the Radiant One said, then he spoke further.

SC 6SC Verse 453Now peaceful Ones say: first speak the well-spoken,
and second, speak Dharma but not its opposite,
what’s kind do speak, third, not the unkind,
while fourth, speak the truth but never the false.

SC 7Then the venerable Vaṅgīsa rose with robe over one shoulder and lotussed hands towards the Radiant One saying to him: “Sir, it has come to me!”

SC 8“Let it come to you, Vaṅgīsa.”

SC 9The venerable Vaṅgīsa then praised the Radiant One in his presence with these appropriate verses:

SC 10SC Verse 454Only that speech should be spoken
from which harm does not come to oneself,
nor torment brings upon others—
this truly is speech that’s well-spoken.

SC 11SC Verse 455Speak only those words that are kind,
the speech that is gladly received,
so whatever one speaks to others,
conveying no evil, is kind.

SC 12SC Verse 456Truth indeed, is deathless speech—
this is the ancient Dharma.
On truth, its study and practice both,
they say are the Peaceful firm.

SC 13SC Verse 457Whatever words the Buddha speaks,
Nirvāṇa’s safety to attain,
bringing dukkha to an end,
such words they are the worthiest.