Aṇguttara Nikāya
Paṭñcaka-Nipṭāta
XX. Brṭāhmaṭṇa Vagga
The Book of Fives
Sutta 198
Subhā-Sita-Vācā Suttaṃ
The Well-Said
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
Once upon a time Bhagava,
Sāvatthi-town, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park,
came-a revisiting.
There,
to the Beggars gathered round,
he said:
"Beggars!"
And the Beggars gathered round responding:
"Broke Tooth!" Bhagava said:[1]
"Five, Beggars, are the dimensions
making up the well-said,
the not badly said,
the blameless,
unblamable by the wise.
What five?
What is said,
is said
at the right time.
What is said,
is said
truthfully.
What is said,
is said
in a polished manner.[2]
What is said,
is said
sticking to the point.[3]
What is said,
is said
with a heart of friendly vibrations.
These, beggars, are the dimensions
making up the well-said,
the not badly said,
the blameless,
unblamable by the wise."
[1] To this point all this is understood by the single term in the text: "Sāvatthi Nidanam"
[2] Saṇhā: This can be "smooth" as in the way plaster is smoothed out with a trowel, or the ground is smoothed out with a rake; or it can be "refined" as in ground down to a fine powder using mortar and pestle.
[3] Like an arrow fits to the string of the bow.
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