Sage Thiru-valluvar
"The Bard of Universal Man"
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Chapter - 10 : The Utterance of Pleasant Words
 

Introductory Note

This is affability. It is essential to hospitality, so follows it.

Translation(s)

Pleasant words are words that burn with all pervading love, words from the guileless mouth of those who can discern the very truth.

“The speech of enlightened men consists of truth soaked in affection.”
- translation by C. Rajagopalachari

 

Translation(s)

A pleasant word with beaming smile is preferred more than gifts conferred with liberal heart.

“A pleasant word with beaming smile’s preferred,
Even to gifts with liberal heart conferred.”
– translation by Rev. G. U. Pope

Explanation

Pleasant words are within the reach even of the poor. So why not use this free wealth which is more valued than wealth itself?

Translation(s)

To utter pleasant words with brightly beaming smile, kindly light of loving eye, and sincere heart; is charity.

Explanation

In the “Ethics” of Aristotle (Book IV, Chapter vi), the courtesy is speech here inculcated, is said to be the mean between the habit of disputation and surly and the assenter or flatterer’. It has not name in Greek

Translation(s)

The men of pleasant speech that breathe gladness around shall never be found sorrow’s prey due to indigence. (Indigence means a state of extreme poverty or destitution.)

“The men of pleasant speech that gladness breathe around,
Through indigence shall never sorrow’s prey be found.”
 – translation by Rev. G. U. Pope.

Explanation

“One need not fear poverty if he has gladdened the hearts of men by kind words. The world will never leave such a man to suffer by reason of adversity.”
– translation by C. Rajagopalachari

Translation(s)

Humility with pleasant speech is choice adornment for man on earth; all other (adornments) are worth nothing.

“Humility with pleasant speech to man on earth
Is choice adornment; all besides is nothing worth.”
– translation by Rev. G. U. Pope.

 

Translation(s)

One who seeks out good, from his lips flow words of sweetness. In him the power of vice declines and virtues grow.

“Who seeks out good, words from his lips of sweetness flow
In him the power of vice declines and virtues grow.”
– translation by Rev. G. U. Pope.

 

Translation(s)

The words of sterling sense which strictly adhere to rules of right; prompting to virtuous action, yield blessings in every sphere.

Explanation

"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." Proverbs 16:24

Translation(s)

Sweet kindly words, free from meanness, impart delight of heart in this world and in world to come.

“Sweet kindly works, from meanness face, delight of heart
in world to come and in this world impart.”
– translation by Rev. G. U. Pope.

Explanation

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."
- Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Albanian born Indian Missionary and Founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity. Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979 (1910-1997)

"You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total of this world's happiness now. How? By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime."
- Dale Carnegie

One specific example of this verse.

Translation(s)

One who sees the pleasure kindly speech affords, why he makes use of harsh and repellent words?

“Who sees the pleasures kindly speech affords,
Why makes he use of harsh, repellant words?”
– translation by Rev G U Pope.

Explanation

"Cuckoo spends her days in silence till when her sweet voice which gives joy to people rises." Chanakya Neeti, 14.10. (It is better to be silent than speak harshly or rudely).

Translation(s)

When pleasant words are easy; to use bitter words is to choose sour unripe fruit leaving the sweet ripe.

“When pleasant words are easy, bitter words to use,
Is, leaving sweet ripe fruit, the sour unripe to choose.”
- translation by Rev G U Pope.

 

Summary Note

Summary: Pleasant speech is defined (91) and it is said to be more excellent than generous gifts (92) and charity as well (93). Its benefits in this worlds (94, 95), in the next one (96), and in both (97,98) are stated. Finally says that as we choose ripe fruit over unripe, so choose pleasant speech over bitter words.

No wonder, Bible also recommends it: "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."
- Bible, Proverbs 15:1 (KJV)

The Right Hand Position is popularly called "Varun Mudra" in Yoga - Closeup,
Thiruvalluvar Memorial (133 Feet, 7000 Tonnes), Kanyakumari,India
Credit: Kris Kumar, Flickr

References