Well-Spoken WordsSubhāsitasutta

At Sāvatthī.Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “Mendicants!”“bhikkhavo”ti.

“Venerable sir,” they replied.“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. The Buddha said this:Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Mendicants, speech that has four factors is well spoken, not poorly spoken. It’s blameless and is not criticized by sensible people.“Catūhi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgatā vācā subhāsitā hoti, no dubbhāsitā; anavajjā ca ananuvajjā ca viññūnaṁ. What four?Katamehi catūhi? 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.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu subhāsitaṁyeva bhāsati no dubbhāsitaṁ, dhammaṁyeva bhāsati no adhammaṁ, piyaṁyeva bhāsati no appiyaṁ, saccaṁyeva bhāsati no alikaṁ. Speech with these four factors is well spoken, not poorly spoken. It’s blameless and is not criticized by sensible people.”Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi aṅgehi samannāgatā vācā subhāsitā hoti, no dubbhāsitā, anavajjā ca ananuvajjā ca viññūnan”ti.

That is what the Buddha said.Idamavoca bhagavā. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

“Good people say well-spoken words are foremost;“Subhāsitaṁ uttamamāhu santo, second, speech ought be principled, not unprincipled;Dhammaṁ bhaṇe nādhammaṁ taṁ dutiyaṁ; third, speak pleasantly, not unpleasantly;Piyaṁ bhaṇe nāppiyaṁ taṁ tatiyaṁ, and fourth, speak truthfully, not falsely.”Saccaṁ bhaṇe nālikaṁ taṁ catutthan”ti.

Then Venerable Vaṅgīsa rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha, and said,Atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “I feel inspired to speak, Blessed One! I feel inspired to speak, Holy One!”“paṭibhāti maṁ, bhagavā, paṭibhāti maṁ, sugatā”ti.

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

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

“Speak only those words“Tameva vācaṁ bhāseyya, that do not hurt yourselfyāyattānaṁ na tāpaye; nor harm others;Pare ca na vihiṁseyya, such speech is truly well spoken.sā ve vācā subhāsitā.

Speak only pleasing words,Piyavācaṁva bhāseyya, words gladly welcomed.yā vācā paṭinanditā; Pleasing words are thoseYaṁ anādāya pāpāni, that bring nothing bad to others.paresaṁ bhāsate piyaṁ.

Truth itself is undying speech:Saccaṁ ve amatā vācā, this is an ancient teaching.esa dhammo sanantano; Good people say the teaching and meaningSacce atthe ca dhamme ca, are grounded in truth.āhu santo patiṭṭhitā.

The words spoken by the BuddhaYaṁ buddho bhāsate vācaṁ, for finding the sanctuary, extinguishment,khemaṁ nibbānapattiyā; for making an end of suffering:Dukkhassantakiriyāya, this really is the best kind of speech.”sā ve vācānamuttamā”ti.