Aṇguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
III. Puggala Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
or
More-Numbered Suttas
III. The Book of the Threes
III. On Persons
Sutta 28
Gūtha-Bhāṇī Suttaṃ
Fair-spoken[1]
Translated from the Pali by
F.L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1][olds][bodh] Thus have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthi at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, Lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said this:
"Monks, these three persons are found existing in the world.
What three?
The tricky-tongued,[2]
the fair-spoken[3]
and the honey-tongued.
§
And of what sort, monks, is the tricky-tongued?
Herein, monks, a certain person is summoned to go before [111] a court,
a company or gathering of his relations,
or a guild,
or to the royal palace,
and as an eye-witness (of some deed) is cross-examined thus:
'Come now, my man,[4] say what you know!'
Then, though ignorant, he says that he knows.
Though he knows, he denies all knowledge.
Though he was not an eye-witness of the event,
he says he was.
Though an eye-witness, he denies it.
Thus to shield himself or others,
or for the sake of some triffling gain,
he knowingly tells a lie.
This one, monks, is called 'the tricky-tongued.'
■
And of what sort, monks, is the fair-spoken?
Herein, monks, a certain person is summoned to go before a court,
a company or gathering of his relations,
or a guild,
or to the royal palace,
and as an eye-witness (of some deed) is cross-examined thus:
'Come now, my man, say what you know!'
Then, ignorant, he denies all knowledge.
Knowing, he says that he knows.
An eye-witness of the event,
he says he was.
Not an eye-witness, he denies it.
Thus neither to shield himself or others,
nor for the sake of some triffling gain,
does he knowingly tell a lie.
This one, monks, is called 'the fair-spoken.'
■
And of what sort, monks, is the honey-tongued?
In this case a certain person,
abandoning harsh speech, abstains therefrom.
Whatsoever speech is harmless,
pleasant to the ear,
agreeable,
touching the heart,
courteous,
delightful to many folk,
pleasant to many folk
— such speech he uses.
This one is called 'the honey-tongued.'
These are the three persons found existing in the world."
[1] Cf. Pugg., p. 29
[2] Text and Comy. gūtha-bhāṇī. I read kūṭa- with Kern's emendation of Pugg., for the textual explanation favours the meaning 'deceit.' Comy. paraphr. as akantaṇ vacanaṇ.
[3] Puppha-bhāṇī, lit. 'flower-spoken'.
[4] Text evam bho purisa. Sinh. text eh'ambho, acc. to which I trans.
