HeartDhamma

AN 5.198 Well-Spoken

Vācā Sutta

 

“Five qualities, monks,

Make for speech to be well-spoken, not ill-spoken,

for which the sages do not find faults nor blame.

 

What Five?

 

[When it is]

 

(1) Spoken at the right time,

(2) Spoken with truth,

(3) Spoken softly,[1]

(4) Spoken with meaning,

(5) Spoken with a heart of Loving-compassion.

 

 

These five qualities monks,

Make for speech to be well-spoken, not ill-spoken,

Which is blameless and irreproachable by the wise.

 

 


[1] Saṇha (adj.) [cp. Sk. ślakṣṇa] 1. smooth, soft — 2. gentle, mild — 3. delicate, exquisite

 
 

 

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