There have been a lot of things said about good speech, but the first phrase that comes to mind is Kabir’s famous doha – बोली एक अनमोल है, जो कोई भी बोले जानि । हिये तराजू तौलि के, तब मुख बाहर आनि।। – words are priceless, and so weigh your words well, before you speak.
Our ancestors placed a lot of importance on speech. They identified four levels of speech – Vaikhari, the lowest level, the spoken word and the outward expression of speech, Madhyama, the thoughts held in our mind, Pashyanti, or knowledge acquired without the adulteration of sight and reasoning, and Para-Vak, the highest form of sound.
In the modern world, people usually stop at Madhyama vak, or thoughts that are a factor of what we see and hear.
Some of these thoughts we express as Vaikhari, others we hold back. But even the thought held back has manifested, and so has a subtle effect on us and others.
Humility and good speech are the true markers of a good human being. Anything else is pretentious. Remember the old adage – people may forget what you say, but will never forget how you make them feel. And words have that effect – they can make you feel happy, or sad, angry or calm…
And so choose your words well. Why choose to speak harshly, when you can speak sweetly,
There is always an alternative. Wisdom is in weighing one’s words, understanding the implications, and then speaking.
Higher wisdom is in weighing thoughts, understanding the implications, and then thinking.
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् |
स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते || 15||
anudvega-karaṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priya-hitaṁ cha yat
svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ chaiva vāṅ-mayaṁ tapa uchyate
Words that do not cause distress, are truthful, inoffensive, and beneficial, as well as the regular self-introspection—these are declared as the austerity of speech.
Srimad Bhagvad Gita 17.15