Dhammapada 232
Guard against outbursts of speech
Guard against outbursts of speech; be restrained in speech. Leave wrong conduct in speech behind; practice good conduct in speech.
Translated from the Pāli by Banya
Pāli
Vacīpakopaṁ rakkheyya,
vācāya saṁvuto siyā;
Vacīduccaritaṁ hitvā,
vācāya sucaritaṁ care.
In plain words
The verse asks you to guard against uncontrolled speech and leave harmful speech behind. It also asks you to practice speaking well, rather than making silence the entire goal.
Key words
- vacīpakopa
- agitation or outburst in speech — Broader than anger alone.
The story behind the verse
The Band of Six
In the commentary, at Veluvana, monks of the Band of Six put on wooden shoes. They carried wooden staves in their hands, and they walked back and forth on a flat rock. The clatter reached the Buddha, and he asked Ānanda what was causing it. Ānanda identified the monks and explained the noise, and the Buddha taught restraint in bodily action, speech, and thought, giving the group of verses that includes this one.
Retold by Banya from the traditional commentary, after E. W. Burlingame, Buddhist Legends (1921).
To reflect on
What makes speech helpful in a conversation you expect today?
Try it today
Before one reply, check that it is truthful and not needlessly harsh.
Practise it with
Loving-kindness (mettā)
Explanation by Banya. Traditional readings vary.