8. Vācavarga
The Chapter about Speech
(15 Verses)
[181 ≈ Dhp 306]
[stm.]
Abhūtavādī narakān upaiti, yaś cānyad apy ācaratīha karma,
The one who speaks falsely undergoes purgatory, so too does one who does any other (wrong) deeds here, It seems to me that the Udānavarga is on stronger ethical grounds here than the Udāna, in that it states that anyone doing wrong deeds (verbally, or in any other way) may end up in purgatory. The Pāḷi seems to differentiate speaking falsely from giving false witness, which may not be justifiable, both being forms of wrong speech.
ubhau hi tau pretya samau niruktau, nihīnadharmau manujau paratra. 8.1
both of these are declared the same after death, in the next world they are declared humans who did base things.
A-bhūta-vādī (m. nom. sg.) the false-speaker; narakān (m. acc. pl.) purgatory; upaiti (3rd. sg. pres.) undergoes; yaḥ (m. nom. sg. rel. pron.) one who; ca (indec.) and; api (indec.) also; anyat (n. acc. sg.) other; ācarati (3rd. sg. pres.) performs; iha (indec.) here; karma (n. acc. coll. sg.) deeds; ubhau (m. nom. num. du.) both; hi (indec.) indeed; tau (m. dem. pron. nom. du.) those two; pretya (abs.) after death; samau (m. nom. dual) the same; niruktau (m. nom. du. pp.) are declared; nihīna-dharmau (m. nom. du.) of base things; manujau (m. nom. du.) humans; paratra (indec.) in the next world.
Abhūtavādī nirayaṁ upeti, yo vāpi katvā: Na karomī ti cāha,
The one who speaks falsely undergoes purgatory, and he who, having done it, says: I did not do it,
ubho pi te pecca samā bhavanti, nihīnakammā manujā parattha.
both of these are just the same after death, in the next world they are (declared) humans who did base deeds.
[182 ≈ Snp 662 (657)]
[stm. + ana.]
Puruṣasya hi jātasya, kuṭhārī jāyate mukhe,
When a man is born, This is a genitive absolute construction specifying when. a hatchet arises in his mouth,
yayā chinatti hātmānaṁ, vācā durbhāṣitaṁ vadan. 8.2
with that he cuts himself up, speaking words that are badly spoken.
Puruṣasya (m. gen. abs. sg.) when a man; hi (indec.) indeed; jātasya (m. gen. sg. pp.) of one who is born; kuṭhārī (f. nom. sg.) a hatchet; jāyate (3rd. sg. pres. pass.) arises; mukhe (n. loc. sg.) in the mouth; yayā (f. inst. sg. rel. pron.) with which; chinatti (3rd. sg. pres.) cuts; hā (metrical filler); ātmānam (m. acc. sg. dem. pron.) himself; vācā (f. inst. sg.) with words; dur-bhāṣitam (n. acc. sg.) what is badly spoken; vadan (m. nom. sg. prp.) speaking.
Purisassa hi jātassa, kuṭhārī jāyate mukhe,
When a man is born, a hatchet arises in his mouth,
yāya chindati attānaṁ, bālo dubbhāsitaṁ bhaṇaṁ.
with that the fool cuts himself up, speaking what is badly spoken.
[183 ≈ Snp 663 (658)]
[stm.]
Yo nindiyāṁ praśaṁsati, tān api nindati ye praśaṁsiyāḥ,
The one who praises the blameworthy, who even blames those who are praiseworthy,
sa cinoti mukhena taṁ kaliṁ, kalinā tena sukhaṁ na vindati. 8.3
that one accumulates an offence with his mouth, because of that offence happiness is not found.
Yaḥ (m. nom. sg. rel. pron.) one who; nindiyām (f. acc. sg. gerund.) the blameworthy; praśaṁsati (3rd. sg. pres.) praises; tān (m. acc. pl. dem. pron.) them; api (indec.) also; nindati (3rd. sg. pres.) blames; ye (m. nom. pl. rel. pron.) those who; praśaṁsiyāḥ (m. nom. pl. gerund.) the praiseworthy; saḥ (m. nom. sg. dem. pron.) that one; cinoti (3rd. sg. pres.) accumulates; mukhena (n. inst. sg.) with the mouth; tam (m. acc. sg. dem. pron.) that; kalim (m. acc. sg.) an offense; kalinā (m. inst. sg.) because of the offense; tena (m. inst. sg. dem. pron.) by that; sukham (n. acc. coll. sg.) happiness; na (indec.) not; vindati (3rd. sg. pres.) finds.
Yo nindiyaṁ pasaṁsati, taṁ vā nindati yo pasaṁsiyo,
He who praises the blameworthy, or who blames the one who is praiseworthy,
vicināti mukhena so kaliṁ, kalinā tena sukhaṁ na vindati.
that one accumulates an offence with his mouth, because of that offence happiness is not found.
[184 ≈ Snp 664 (659)]
[stm.]
Alpamātro hy ayaṁ kalir ya ihākṣeṇa dhanaṁ parājayet,
One who were to lose wealth through dice here, this offence is insignificant,
ayam atra mahattaraḥ kalir, yaḥ sugateṣu manaḥ pradūṣayet. 8.4
this is a far greater offence here, the one who would corrupt the mind towards those who are good.
Alpa-mātraḥ (m. nom. sg.) insignificant; hi (indec.) indeed; ayam (m. nom. sg. dem. pron.) this; kaliḥ (m. nom. sg.) an offense; yaḥ (m. nom. sg. rel. pron.) one who; iha (indec.) here; akṣeṇa (m. inst. sg.) with dice; dhanam (n. acc. coll. sg.) wealth; parājayet (3rd. sg. opt.) one might lose; ayam (m. nom. sg. dem. pron.) this; atra (indec.) here; mahat-taraḥ (m. nom. sg.) greater; kaliḥ (m. nom. sg.) an offense; yaḥ (m. nom. sg. rel. pron.) one who; su-gateṣu (m. loc. pl.) towards those who are good; manaḥ (n. acc. sg.) the mind; pradūṣayet (3rd. sg. opt.) one would corrupt.
Appamatto ayaṁ kali yo akkhesu dhanaparājayo,
One who were to lose wealth through dice here, this offence is insignificant,
sabbassāpi sahāpi attanā, ayam-eva mahattaro kali,
even everything, including oneself, this is a far greater offence,
yo sugatesu manaṁ padosaye.
the one who would corrupt the mind towards those who are good.
[185 ≈ Snp 665 (660)]
[stm.]
Śataṁ sahasrāṇi nirarbudāni, ṣaṭtrimśatiṁ pañca tathārbudāni,
Hundreds, thousands, many billions, DPD says this number equals 1063. thirty-six plus five billions DPD: 1056. The numbers are, of course, incredibly long, the exact number is perhaps not important. (of years),
yān āryagarhī narakān upaiti, vācaṁ manaś ca praṇidhāya pāpakam. 8.5
one who blames the noble undergoes purgatory (for this long), having directed his mind and speech to wrong.
Śatam (n. nom. pl.) hundreds; sahasrāṇi (n. nom. pl.) thousands; nir-arbudāni (n. nom. pl.) 1063; ṣaṭ-trimśatim (f. acc. sg. num.) thirty-six; pañca (n. nom. pl. num.) five; tathā (indec.) and also; arbudāni (n. nom. pl.) 1056; yān (n. acc. pl. rel. pron.) one who; ārya-garhī (m. nom. sg.) the slanderer of the noble; narakān (m. acc. pl.) purgatory; upaiti (3rd. sg. pres.) undergoes; vācam (f. acc. sg.) speech; manaḥ (n. acc. sg.) the mind; ca (indec.) and; praṇidhāya (abs.) having directed; pāpakam (n. acc. sg.) wrong.
Sataṁ sahassānaṁ nirabbudānaṁ, chattiṁsati pañca ca abbudāni,
Hundreds, thousands, many millions, thirty-six plus five billions (of years),
yam-ariyagarahī nirayaṁ upeti, vācaṁ manañ-ca paṇidhāya pāpakaṁ.
one who blames the noble undergoes purgatory (for this long), having directed his mind and speech to wrong.
[186]
[stm.]
Asataṁ hi vadanti pāpacittā, narakaṁ vardhayate, vadhāya nityam,
Indeed the bad speak with wicked minds, increasing purgatory, constantly punishing (themselves),
anavadyabalas titīkṣate, tāṁ manaso hy āvilatāṁ vivarjayitvā. 8.6
but the blameless, strong one, endures, avoiding that agitation of the mind.
Asatam (m. acc. pl.) the bad ones; hi (indec.) indeed; vadanti (3rd. pl. pres.) they speak; pāpa-cittā (m. nom. pl.) with wicked minds; narakam (m. acc. sg.) purgatory; vardhayate (3rd. sg. pres.) increases; vadhāya (m. dat. sg.) for the sake of punishing; nityam (indec.) constantly; an-avadyaḥ (m. nom. sg.) the blameless one; balaḥ (m. nom. sg.) the strong one; titīkṣate (3rd. sg. pres.) endures; tām (f. acc. sg. dem. pron.) that; manasaḥ (n. gen. sg.) of the mind; hi (indec.) indeed; āvilatām (f. acc. sg.) agitation; vivarjayitvā (abs.) avoiding.
[187 ≈ Dhp 164]
[stm. + sim.]
Yaḥ śāsanaṁ hy Arhatām Āryāṇāṁ Dharmajīvinām
pratikrośati durmedhā dṛṣṭiṁ niḥśritya pāpikām, It may be better to reverse these lines. In prose order we might have expected: Durmedhā pāpikāṁ dṛṣṭiṁ niḥśritya, yaḥ Āryāṇāṁ Dharmajīvinām Arhatāṁ śāsanaṁ pratikrośati … saḥ ātmavadhāya: the unintelligent one, depending on wrong views, who reviles the teaching of the Noble Arhats, who live by Dharma … brings about his own destruction.
The one who reviles the teaching of those who live by the Dharma of the Noble Arhats, the unintelligent one, depending on wrong views,
phalaṁ kaṇṭakaveṇur vā phalaty ātmavadhāya saḥ. 8.7
like the thorny bamboo when it bears fruit, brings about his own destruction.
Yaḥ (m. nom. sg. rel. pron.) one who; śāsanam (n. acc. sg.) the teaching; hi (indec.) indeed; Arhatām (m. gen. pl.) of the Arhats; Āryāṇām (m. gen. pl.) of the Noble Ones; Dharma-jīvinām (m. gen. pl.) of those living by Dharma; pratikrośati (3rd. sg. pres.) reviles; dur-medhāḥ (m. nom. sg.) the unintelligent one; dṛṣṭim (f. acc. sg.) view; niḥśritya (abs.) depending on; pāpikām (f. acc. sg.) wrong; phalam (n. acc. coll. sg.) fruits; kaṇṭaka-veṇuḥ (m. nom. sg.) the thorny bamboo; vā (indec.) like; phalati (3rd. sg. pres.) bears fruit; ātma-vadhāya (m. dat. sg.) for self-destruction; saḥ (m. nom. sg. dem. pron.) that one.
Yo sāsanaṁ Arahataṁ Ariyānaṁ Dhammajīvinaṁ
paṭikkosati dummedho diṭṭhiṁ nissāya pāpikaṁ,
The one who reviles the teaching of those who live by the Dharma of the Noble Arhats, the unintelligent one, depending on wrong views,
phalāni kaṭṭhakasseva attaghaññāya phallati.
like the thorny bamboo when it bears fruit, brings about his own destruction.
[188]
[adm.]
Kalyāṇikāṁ vimuñceta, naiva muñceta pāpikām,
One should set free the wholesome ones, never set free wicked ones,
muktā kalyāṇikī śreyo, muktā tapati pāpikā. 8.8
the wholesome one freed up is best, when set free the wicked one burns.
Kalyāṇikām (f. acc. sg.) the wholesome; vimuñceta (3rd. sg. opt.) set free; na (indec.) not; eva (indec.) ever; muñceta (3rd. sg. opt.) one should set free; pāpikām (f. acc. sg.) the wicked; muktā (f. nom. sg. pp.) set free; kalyāṇikī (f. nom. sg.) the wholesome one; śreyaḥ (n. nom. sg.) the best; muktā (f. nom. sg. pp.) set free; tapati (3rd. sg. pres.) it burns; pāpikā (f. nom. sg.) the wicked one.
[189]
[adm.]
Na ca mukte pramuñcet tāṁ, muñcamāno hi bādhyate,
One should not set free that wickedness The pronoun here is pointing forward to the object pāpikā in the next pādayuga. We can only get a clear understanding of the meaning by including the word again here. which is not free, Notice na here has to work twice for it to make sense: One should not set free that which is not free, otherwise we would have to read: One should not set free that which is free. the one freeing it is afflicted,
naivam Āryāḥ pramuñcanti, muktā bālair hi pāpikā. 8.9
not in this way do the Noble Ones set it free, but wickedness is set free by fools.
Na (indec.) not; ca (indec.) and; mukte (n. loc. sg. pp.) in what is free; pramuñcet (3rd. sg. opt.) one should set free; tām (f. acc. sg. dem. pron.) that (wickedness); muñcamānaḥ (m. nom. sg. prp.) the one freeing; hi (indec.) for; bādhyate (3rd. sg. pres. pass.) is afflicted; na (indec.) not; evam (indec.) in this way; Āryāḥ (m. nom. pl.) the Noble Ones; pramuñcanti (3rd. pl. pres.) they set it free; muktā (f. nom. sg. pp.) set free; bālaiḥ (m. inst. pl.) by fools; hi (indec.) for; pāpikā (f. nom. sg.) wickedness.
[190 ≈ Dhp 363]
[stm. + ana.]
Mukhena saṁyato bhikṣur, mandabhāṣī hy anuddhataḥ,
That monastic who is restrained with his mouth, who speaks gently, who is modest,
arthaṁ Dharmaṁ ca deśayati, madhuraṁ tasya bhāṣitam. 8.10
who teaches the meaning of the Dharma, his speech is sweet.
Mukhena (n. inst. sg.) with the mouth; saṁyataḥ (m. nom. sg. pp.) restrained; bhikṣuḥ (m. nom. sg.) a monastic; manda-bhāṣī (m. nom. sg.) speaking gently; hi (indec.) indeed; an-uddhataḥ (m. nom. sg.) modest; artham (m. acc. sg.) the meaning; Dharmam (m. acc. sg.) the Dharma; ca (indec.) and; deśayati (3rd. sg. pres.) teaches; madhuran (n. nom. sg.) sweet; tasya (m. gen. sg. dem. pron.) his; bhāṣitam (n. nom. sg. pp.) speech.
Yo mukhasaṁyato bhikkhu, mantabhāṇī anuddhato,
That monastic who is restrained with his mouth, who speaks well, who is modest,
atthaṁ Dhammañ-ca dīpeti, madhuraṁ tassa bhāsitaṁ.
who teaches the meaning of the Dhamma, his speech is sweet.
[191 ≈ Snp 452 (450) The next five parallels all come from one discourse, Subhāsitasutta, Snp 3.3. ]
[adm.]
Subhāṣitaṁ hy uttamam āhur āryā; Dharmaṁ vaden nādharmaṁ tad dvitīyam;
The noble say what is well-spoken is first; speak Dharma, not what is not Dharma, is second;
priyaṁ vaden nāpriyaṁ tat tṛtīyaṁ; satyaṁ vaden nāsatyaṁ tac caturtham. 8.11
speak what is kind, not unkind, is the third; speak truth, not untruth, that is the fourth.
Su-bhāṣitam (n. nom. sg.) what is well-spoken; hy (euphonic particle); uttamam (n. nom. sg.) the first; āhuḥ (3rd. pl. perf.) they say; Āryāḥ (m. nom. pl.) the Noble Ones; Dharmam (m. acc. sg.) Dharma; vadet (3rd. sg. opt.) one should speak; na (indec.) not; a-dharmam (m. acc. sg.) not Dharma; tat (n. nom. sg. dem. pron.) that; dvitīyam (n. nom. sg.) the second; priyam (n. acc. sg.) kind; vadet (3rd. sg. opt.) one should speak; na (indec.) not; a-priyam (n. acc. sg.) unkind; tat (n. nom. sg. dem. pron.) that; tṛtīyam (n. nom. sg.) the third; satyam (n. acc. sg.) truth; vadet (3rd. sg. opt.) one should speak; na (indec.) not; a-satyam (n. acc. sg.) untruth; tat (n. nom. sg. dem. pron.) that; caturtham (n. nom. sg.) the fourth.
Subhāsitaṁ uttamam-āhu santo; Dhammaṁ bhaṇe nādhammaṁ taṁ dutiyaṁ;
The good say what is well-spoken is first; speak Dhamma, not what is not Dhamma, is second;
piyaṁ bhaṇe nāppiyaṁ taṁ tatiyaṁ; saccaṁ bhaṇe nālikaṁ taṁ catutthaṁ.
speak what is kind, not unkind, is the third; speak truth, not lies, that is the fourth.
[192 ≈ Snp 453 (451)]
[adm.]
Tām eva vācaṁ bhāṣeta yayātmānaṁ na tāpayet,
One should speak a word by which one would not torment oneself,
parāṁś ca na vihiṁseta, sā hi vāk sādhu bhāṣitā. 8.12
and would not harm others, this speech is indeed well-spoken.
Tām (f. acc. sg. dem. pron.) that; eva (indec.) indeed; vācam (f. acc. sg.) word; bhāṣeta (3rd. sg. opt.) one should speak; yayā (f. inst. sg. rel. pron.) by which; ātmānam (m. acc. sg.) oneself; na (indec.) not; tāpayet (3rd. sg. opt.) one would torment; parān (m. acc. pl.) others; ca (indec.) and; na (indec.) not; vihiṁseta (3rd. sg. opt.) one would harm; sā (f. nom. sg. dem. pron.) that; hi (indec.) indeed; vāk (f. nom. sg.) speech; sādhu (indec.) well; bhāṣitā (f. nom. sg. pp.) spoken.
Tam-eva vācaṁ bhāseyya yāyattānaṁ na tāpaye,
One should speak a word by which one would not torment oneself,
pare ca na vihiṁseyya, sā ve vācā subhāsitā.
and would not harm others, this speech is indeed well-spoken.
[193 ≈ Snp 454 (452)]
[adm.]
Priyodyam eva bhāṣeta, yā hi vācābhinanditā,
One should only speak what is loved and uplifting, words that are rejoiced in,
nādadāti yayā pāpaṁ, bhāṣamāṇaḥ sadā priyam. 8.13
by which wrong is not taken up, speaking always what is loved.
Priya-udyam (n. acc. sg.) loved and uplifting; eva (indec.) indeed; bhāṣeta (3rd. sg. opt.) one should speak; yā (f. nom. sg. rel. pron.) which; hi (indec.) indeed; vācā (f. inst. sg.) with words; abhinanditā (f. nom. sg. pp.) is rejoiced in; na (indec.) not; ādadāti (3rd. sg. pres.) takes up; yayā (f. inst. sg. rel. pron.) by which; pāpam (n. acc. sg.) wrong; bhāṣamāṇaḥ (m. nom. sg. prp.) speaking; sadā (indec.) always; priyam (n. acc. sg.) what is loved.
Piyavācam-eva bhāseyya, yā vācā paṭinanditā,
One should only speak what is loved, words that are accepted gladly,
yaṁ anādāya pāpāni, paresaṁ bhāsate piyaṁ.
by which wrong is not taken up, speaking what is loved to others.
[194 ≈ Snp 455 (453)]
[stm.]
Satyā syād amṛtā vācā, satyavācā hy anuttarā,
Truthful speech can be immortal, truthful speech is unsurpassed,
satyam arthe ca Dharme ca vācam āhuḥ pratiṣṭhitām. 8.14
truthful speech they say is established in both meaning and Dharma.
Satyā (f. nom. sg.) truthful; syāt (3rd. sg. opt.) can be; a-mṛtā (f. nom. sg.) immortal; vācā (f. nom. sg.) speech; satya-vācā (f. nom. sg.) truthful speech; hi (indec.) indeed; an-uttarā (f. nom. sg.) unsurpassed; satyam (n. nom. sg.) truth; arthe (m. loc. sg.) in meaning; ca (indec.) and; Dharme (m. loc. sg.) in Dharma; ca (indec.) and; vācam (n. acc. sg.) speech; āhuḥ (3rd. pl. perf.) (they) say; pratiṣṭhitām (f. acc. sg. pp.) established.
Saccaṁ ve amatā vācā, esa Dhammo sanantano,
Truthful speech is indeed immortal, this Dhamma is eternal,
sacce atthe ca Dhamme ca āhu santo patiṭṭhitā.
the good say they are established in truth, meaning and Dhamma.
[195 ≈ Snp 456 (454)]
[stm.]
Yāṁ Buddho bhāṣate vācaṁ kṣemāṁ Nirvāṇaprāptaye,
Whatever words a Buddha speaks for attaining the safety of Nirvāṇa,
duḥkhasyāntakriyāyuktāṁ, sā hi vāk sādhu bhāṣitā. 8.15
connected to making an end of suffering, that speech is indeed well-spoken.
Yām (f. acc. sg. rel. pron.) which; Buddhaḥ (m. nom. sg.) the Buddha; bhāṣate (3rd. sg. pres.) speaks; vācam (n. acc. sg.) words; kṣemām (f. acc. sg.) safety; Nirvāṇa-prāptaye (f. dat. sg. pp.) for the attainment of Nirvāṇa; duḥkhasya (n. gen. coll. sg.) of suffering; anta-kriyā (f. inst. sg.) with the act of ending; yuktām (f. acc. sg.) connected; sā (f. nom. sg.) that; hi (indec.) indeed; vāk (f. nom. sg.) speech; sādhu (indec.) good; bhāṣitā (f. nom. sg. pp.) spoken.
Yaṁ Buddho bhāsati vācaṁ khemaṁ Nibbānapattiyā,
Whatever word a Buddha speaks for attaining the safety of Nibbāna,
dukkhassantakiriyāya, sā ve vācānam-uttamā.
connected to making an end of suffering, that speech is indeed supreme.
Vācavargaḥ, 8.
The Chapter about Speech, the Eighth