The Buddha teaches on harsh speech, presenting a fourfold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 4.269 Harsh Speech

…pe… Attanā ca pharusavāco hoti, parañca pharusāya vācāya samādapeti, pharusāya vācāya ca samanuñño hoti, pharusāya vācāya ca vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati …pe….

Attanā ca pharusāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, parañca pharusāya vācāya veramaṇiyā samādapeti, pharusāya vācāya veramaṇiyā ca samanuñño hoti, pharusāya vācāya veramaṇiyā ca vaṇṇaṁ bhāsatiimehi kho …pe….

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

…pe… Attanā ca pharusavāco hoti, parañca pharusāya vācāya samādapeti, pharusāya vācāya ca samanuñño hoti, pharusāya vācāya ca vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati …pe….

“… They themselves speak harshly …

Attanā ca pharusāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, parañca pharusāya vācāya veramaṇiyā samādapeti, pharusāya vācāya veramaṇiyā ca samanuñño hoti, pharusāya vācāya veramaṇiyā ca vaṇṇaṁ bhāsatiimehi kho …pe….

… They don’t themselves speak harshly …”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Qualities:

Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026