What a Word Should Be

When the king had spoken, the lovely Sulabhā began to speak still more beautifully. A true word, she said, has five parts: subtlety, the counting of what is good and bad, order, a conclusion, and a purpose. It must be free of the faults of speech and of thought, and it must keep to its meaning, not wander, not say too much, not be harsh or doubtful, not false, not against dharma and wealth and desire, not left unfinished.

I will not speak from desire or anger, fear or greed, meanness or shame, pity or pride. When the speaker, the hearer and the word are whole, the meaning shines. When the speaker despises the hearer, or speaks only for himself, or only for the other, the word does not grow. The true speaker speaks for the good of both. Listen with a steady mind.