10. The Utterance of Pleasant Words
Chapter. 10. The Utterance of Pleasant Words
Kural-91
Pleasant words are words with all pervading love that burn;
Words from his guileless mouth who can the very truth discern.
Meaning : Sweet words are those which imbued with love and free from deceit flow from the mouth of the virtuous.
Kural-92
A pleasant word with beaming smile,s preferred,
Even to gifts with liberal heart conferred.
Meaning : Sweet speech, with a cheerful countenance is better than a gift made with a joyous mind.
Kural-93
With brightly beaming smile, and kindly light of loving eye,
And heart sincere, to utter pleasant words is charity.
Meaning : Sweet speech, flowing from the heart (uttered) with a cheerful countenance and a sweet look, is true virtue.
Kural-94
The men of pleasant speech that gladness breathe around,
Through indigence shall never sorrow's prey be found.
Meaning : Sorrow-increasing poverty shall not come upon those who use towards all, pleasure-increasing sweetness of speech.
Kural-95
Humility with pleasant speech to man on earth,
Is choice adornment; all besides is nothing worth.
Meaning : Humility and sweetness of speech are the ornaments of man; all others are not (ornaments).
Kural-96
Who seeks out good, words from his lips of sweetness flow;
In him the power of vice declines, and virtues grow.
Meaning : If a man, while seeking to speak usefully, speaks also sweetly, his sins will diminish and his virtue increase.
Kural-97
The words of sterling sense, to rule of right that strict adhere,
To virtuous action prompting, blessings yield in every sphere.
Meaning : That speech which, while imparting benefits ceases not to please, will yield righteousness (for this world) and merit (for the next world).
Kural-98
Sweet kindly words, from meanness free, delight of heart,
In world to come and in this world impart.
Meaning : Sweet speech, free from harm to others, will give pleasure both in this world and in the next.
Kural-99
Who sees the pleasure kindly speech affords,
Why makes he use of harsh, repellant words?
Meaning : Why does he use harsh words, who sees the pleasure which sweet speech yields ?
Kural-100
When pleasant words are easy, bitter words to use,
Is, leaving sweet ripe fruit, the sour unripe to choose.
Meaning : To say disagreeable things when agreeable are at hand is like eating unripe fruit when there is ripe.