Gaina sutras

SR No.: 020334
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hermann Jacobi
Publisher: Clarendon Perss
Publication Year: 1884
Total Pages: 385
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 201

BOOK II, LECTURE 4, LESSON 1.
149
FOURTH LECTURE,
CALLED MODES OF SPEECH”.
First LESSON. A monk or a nun, hearing and perceiving these uses of speech, should know that the following ones are not to be employed and have not hitherto been employed (by persons of exemplary conduct); those who speak in wrath or in pride, for deception or for gain, who speak, knowingly or unknowingly, hard words. They should avoid all this, which is blamable. Employing their judgment, they should know something for certain and something for uncertain 2: (1) (N. N.) having received food or not having received food, having eaten it or not having eaten it, has come or has not come, comes or does not come, will come or will not come. (2)
Well considering (what one is to say), speaking with precision, one should employ language in moderation and restraint: the singular, dual, plural ; feminine, masculine, neuter gender; praise, blame,
1 Bhâsagâya.
2 The commentator understands this passage and the following paragraph in a different way: a man of ripe judgment should utter no such positive assertions, e. g. it is certain that it will rain), or it is not certain, &c. He seems to have been of opinion that the prohibition in the last sentence, savvam etam sâvaggam vaggeggâ, extends also to the following sentence. But this is not probable, as etam generally refers to what precedes, and imam to what follows.