Sacred Concord

Mbh 5.164.1c

Mahabharata · translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli

What shall I say, therefore, of my ever wishing harm to my kinsmen? O sire, it was for this that five villages only were solicited by me! Why, O thou of wicked understanding, dost thou not see the dire calamity that threatens thee? Thy soul overwhelmed with lust, thou indulgest in vauntings from defectiveness of understanding. It is for this also thou acceptest not the beneficial words of Vasudeva. What need now of much talk? Fight (against us) with all thy friends! Say, O gambler’s son, unto the Kuru prince who always doth what is injurious to me (these words also, viz.,)--Thy words have been heard; their sense also hath been understood. Let it be as thou wishest!”
Mbh 5.164.1c · Mahabharata · UDYOGA PARVA

Themes in this passage

SpeechWisdomChildrenDesireFriendshipLeadershipSinThe Soul

Speech in other traditions

The same theme, as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Taoism address it.

Beware of the anger of the tongue, and control thy tongue! Leave the sins of the tongue, and practise virtue with thy tongue!
Dhp 17.232 · Dhammapada · Anger
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
1 Corinthians 14:2 · Bible · 1 Corinthians
O ye who believe! Guard your duty to Allah, and speak words straight to the point;
Quran 33:70 · Quran · The Allies
He who knows (the Tao) does not (care to) speak (about it); he who is (ever ready to) speak about it does not know it.
Tao Te Ching 56.1 · Tao Te Ching

See what all six traditions say about speech →

Search every tradition at once

Ask a question in your own words and see how six traditions answer it.