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SEVENTH CHAPTER : PURITY OF SPEECH
INTRODUCTION
The sixth chapter discusses conduct. Speaking is instrumental in formulation of conduct, and proper speaking is known as regulation of speech, which means disciplined speaking. The commentator acharya (of Niryukti) states-What to say of preaching, it is not even proper for him to speak, who cannot differentiate between correct and incorrect language. With purity of speech comes purity of mind. While practicing ahimsa it is necessary to think analytically before and during speaking. In this chapter detailed analysis has been presented on the discipline of speech from the standpoint of ahimsa.
Speech has been divided into four categories—(1) truth, (2) a lie, (3) mixed, and (4) neither truth nor a lie. Two of these are prohibited and the other two are to be used with discipline. This is the theme of this chapter. The commentator has summed up the process in one sentence-First think and then speak; the speech should lean on wisdom as a blind leans on his guide. (Dashavaikalik Niryukti 292)
This chapter is believed to have been excerpted from Satya Pravad, the sixth Purva.
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श्री दशवकालिक सूत्र : Shri Dashavaikalik Sutra
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