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सम्मा वाचा

Sammā Vācā

Right Speech

正語

beginnerThe Noble Eightfold Path (八正道)

Grammar 語法

compound: sammā + vācā (speech, feminine noun — ā-stem)

Definition 釋義

The third path factor. Refraining from: (1) false speech (musāvādā); (2) divisive speech (pisuṇā vācā); (3) harsh speech (pharusā vācā); (4) idle chatter (samphappalāpā). Right Speech means speaking truthfully, kindly, helpfully, and at the right time. It is the first of the three 'sīla' (ethical conduct) factors of the Eightfold Path.

Canonical Example 典籍例句

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sammā vācā? Musāvādā veramaṇī, pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇī, pharusāya vācāya veramaṇī, samphappalāpā veramaṇī.

And what, monks, is right speech? Abstaining from false speech, from divisive speech, from harsh speech, from idle chatter.

Source: Vibhaṅga Sutta, SN 45.8

At a Glance

Pali
Sammā Vācā
IAST
Sammā Vācā
Devanagari
सम्मा वाचा
Chinese
正語
Difficulty
beginner

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