1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.1.2eka samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.1.3Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,1.4“bhikkhavo”ti.“Mendicants!”1.5“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.“Venerable sir,” they replied.1.6Bhagavā etadavoca:The Buddha said this:

2.1“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.2.2Katamehi catūhi?What four?2.3Idha, 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; their speech is principled, not unprincipled; they speak pleasantly, not unpleasantly; and they speak truthfully, not falsely.2.4Imehi 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.”2.5Idamavoca bhagavā.That is what the Buddha said.2.6Idaṁ vatvāna sugato, athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

3.1“Subhāsitaṁ uttamamāhu santo,“Good people say well-spoken words are foremost;3.2Dhammaṁ bhaṇe nādhammaṁ taṁ dutiyaṁ;second, speech ought be principled, not unprincipled;3.3Piyaṁ bhaṇe nāppiyaṁ taṁ tatiyaṁ,third, speak pleasantly, not unpleasantly;3.4Saccaṁ bhaṇe nālikaṁ taṁ catutthan”ti.and fourth, speak truthfully, not falsely.”

4.1Atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ cīvaraṁ katvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:Then Venerable Vaṅgīsa rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha, and said,4.2“paṭibhāti maṁ, bhagavā, paṭibhāti maṁ, sugatā”ti.“I feel inspired to speak, Blessed One! I feel inspired to speak, Holy One!”4.3“Paṭibhātu taṁ, vaṅgīsā”ti bhagavā avoca.“Then speak as you feel inspired,” said the Buddha.4.4Atha kho āyasmā vaṅgīso bhagavantaṁ sammukhā sāruppāhi gāthāhi abhitthavi:Then Vaṅgīsa extolled the Buddha in his presence with fitting verses:

5.1“Tameva vācaṁ bhāseyya,“Speak only those words5.2yāyattānaṁ na tāpaye;that do not hurt yourself5.3Pare ca na vihiṁseyya,nor harm others;5.4sā ve vācā subhāsitā.such speech is truly well spoken.

6.1Piyavācameva bhāseyya,Speak only pleasing words,6.2yā vācā paṭinanditā;words gladly welcomed.6.3Yaṁ anādāya pāpāni,Pleasing words are those6.4paresaṁ bhāsate piyaṁ.that bring nothing bad to others.

7.1Saccaṁ ve amatā vācā,Truth itself is undying speech:7.2esa dhammo sanantano;this is an ancient teaching.7.3Sacce atthe ca dhamme ca,Good people say the teaching and meaning7.4āhu santo patiṭṭhitā.are grounded in truth.

8.1Yaṁ buddho bhāsati vācaṁ,The words spoken by the Buddha8.2Khemaṁ nibbānapattiyā;for finding the sanctuary, extinguishment,8.3Dukkhassantakiriyāya,for making an end of suffering,8.4Sā ve vācānamuttamā”ti.this really is the best kind of speech.”

8.5Subhāsitasuttaṁ tatiyaṁ.