The austerity of speech

Words that cause no distress, that are truthful, pleasant and beneficial, together with the regular study of scripture, are called the austerity of speech.

अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् ।
स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते ॥

anudvegakaraṃ vākyaṃ satyaṃ priyahitaṃ ca yat .
svādhyāyābhyasanaṃ caiva vāṅmayaṃ tapa ucyate ॥

Related Gita verse: Gita 17.15

Words have great power: they can wound and they can heal. The Gita regards speech that is truthful, pleasant and beneficial, all three together, as a form of austerity.

Life lesson: before speaking, ask: is it true, is it kind, is it helpful?

Theme

Speech

Shloka Ref

17.15

Shloka Path

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