Good Conduct

Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.

[1] Thus have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," they replied,
and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, there are these four bad habits of speech.

What four?

Falsehood,
slander,
bitter speech
idle babble.

These are the four.

[236] Monks, there are these four good habits of speech.

What four?

Speaking truth,
not speaking slander,
soft speech
wise speech.^[1]

These are the four."

^[1] Reading mantā-bhāsā, as at § 149, for text's mantā-vācā; Sinh. text mattā-bhassaṃ. Comy. says nothing; but see loc. cit.