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Subhāsitasutta

Well-Spoken Words

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.

eka samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:
There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,

“bhikkhavo”ti.
“Mendicants!”

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.
“Venerable sir,” they replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:
The Buddha said this:

“Catūhi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgatā vācā subhāsitā hoti, na dubbhāsitā, anavajjā ca ananuvajjā ca viññūnaṁ.
“Mendicants, speech that has four factors is well spoken, not poorly spoken. It’s blameless and is not criticized by sensible people.

Katamehi catūhi?
What four?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu subhāsitaṁyeva bhāsati no dubbhāsitaṁ, dhammaṁyeva bhāsati no adhammaṁ, piyaṁyeva bhāsati no appiyaṁ, saccaṁyeva bhāsati no alikaṁ.
It’s when a mendicant speaks well, not poorly; they speak on the teaching, not against the teaching; they speak pleasantly, not unpleasantly; and they speak truthfully, not falsely.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi aṅgehi samannāgatā vācā subhāsitā hoti, no dubbhāsitā, anavajjā ca ananuvajjā ca viññūnan”ti.
Speech with these four factors is well spoken, not poorly spoken. It’s blameless and is not criticized by sensible people.”

Idamavoca bhagavā.
That is what the Buddha said.

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato, athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:
Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“Subhāsitaṁ uttamamāhu santo,
“Good people say well-spoken words are foremost;

Dhammaṁ bhaṇe nādhammaṁ taṁ dutiyaṁ;
second, speak on the teaching, not against it;

Piyaṁ bhaṇe nāppiyaṁ taṁ tatiyaṁ,
third, speak pleasantly, not unpleasantly;

Saccaṁ bhaṇe nālikaṁ taṁ catutthan”ti.
and fourth, speak truthfully, not falsely.”

Atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ cīvaraṁ katvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then Venerable Vaṅgīsa got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha, and said,

“paṭibhāti maṁ, bhagavā, paṭibhāti maṁ, sugatā”ti.
“I feel inspired to speak, Blessed One! I feel inspired to speak, Holy One!”

“Paṭibhātu taṁ, vaṅgīsā”ti bhagavā avoca.
“Then speak as you feel inspired,” said the Buddha.

Atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso bhagavantaṁ sammukhā sāruppāhi gāthāhi abhitthavi:
Then Vaṅgīsa extolled the Buddha in his presence with fitting verses:

“Tameva vācaṁ bhāseyya,
“Speak only such words

yāyattānaṁ na tāpaye;
that do not hurt yourself

Pare ca na vihiṁseyya,
nor harm others;

sā ve vācā subhāsitā.
such speech is truly well spoken.

Piyavācameva bhāseyya,
Speak only pleasing words,

yā vācā paṭinanditā;
words gladly welcomed.

Yaṁ anādāya pāpāni,
Pleasing words are those

paresaṁ bhāsate piyaṁ.
that bring nothing bad to others.

Saccaṁ ve amatā vācā,
Truth itself is the undying word:

esa dhammo sanantano;
this is an eternal truth.

Sacce atthe ca dhamme ca,
Good people say that the teaching and its meaning

āhu santo patiṭṭhitā.
are grounded in the truth.

Yaṁ buddho bhāsati vācaṁ,
The words spoken by the Buddha

Khemaṁ nibbānapattiyā;
for finding the sanctuary, extinguishment,

Dukkhassantakiriyāya,
for the attainment of vision,

Sā ve vācānamuttamā”ti.
this really is the best kind of speech.”

Subhāsitasuttaṁ tatiyaṁ.