பணிவுடையன் இன்சொலன் ஆதல் ஒருவற்கு
அணியல்ல மற்றுப் பிற.
Panivutaiyan Insolan Aadhal Oruvarku
Aniyalla Matrup Pira (95)
Humility and sweetness of speech are the ornaments of man; everything else is secondary.
विनयो मधुरालाप: द्वयमाभरणं नृणाम् ।
ताभ्यां द्वाभ्यां विहीनस्य किमन्यैर्भूषणै: फलम् ॥ (९५)
मृदुभाषी होना तथा, नम्र-भाव से युक्त ।
सच्चे भूषण मनुज के, अन्य नहीं है उक्त ॥ (९५)
ವಿನಯಶೀಲನಾಗಿರುವುದು, ಸವಿಮಾತು ಆಡುವುದು, ಒಬ್ಬನಿಗೆ ಅಲಂಕಾರವೆನಿಸುವುದು. ಬೇರೆ ಯಾವುದೂ ಅಲಂಕಾರವಲ್ಲ. (೯೫)
വിനായഭാവവും, കൂടെ തേനൂറും മൃദുവാണിയും; വ്യക്തിയിൽ ഭൂഷണം വേറിട്ടൊന്നുമില്ലതു പോലെകേൾ (൯൰൫)
Höfliches Benehmen und freundliche Worte sind jemandes Schmuckstücke – nichts anderes.
இனிய உளவாக இன்னாத கூறல்
கனிஇருப்பக் காய்கவர்ந் தற்று.
Iniya Ulavaaka Innaadha Kooral
Kaniiruppak Kaaikavarn Thatru (100)
To utter harsh words when there is no dearth of sweet words, is like eating unripe fruits when ripe ones are at hand.
कथनं कठिनोक्तीनां मधुरे वचसि स्थिते ।
मधुरं फलमुत्सृज्य कषायस्याशनं भवेत् ॥ (१००)
रहते सुमधुर वचन के, कटु कहने की बान ।
यों ही पक्का छोड़ फल, कच्चा ग्रहण समान ॥ (१००)
ಸವಿಮಾತುಗಳಿರುವಾಗ (ಅವುಗಳನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟು) ಕಠಿಣವಾದ ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನು ಆಡುವವರು, ತನಿವಣ್ಣುಗಳಿರುವಾಗ ಅವುಗಳನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಕಾಯನ್ನು ಕಿತ್ತುಕೊಂಡು ತಿಂದಂತೆ. (೧೦೦)
മധുരവാക്കുരക്കാതെ പാരുഷ്യം വെളിവാക്കുകിൽ തരുവിൽ പഴമുള്ളപ്പോൾ കായ്ഭുജിപ്പതു പോലെയാം (൱)
Harte Worte auszusprechen, wenn es freundliche gibt, ist wie unreife Früchte zu essen, wenn es reife gibt.
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.
Tiruvalluvar stresses that 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, said Valluvar.
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