A Collection of Buddhist Wisdom Verses - Ancient Buddhist Texts

19: Speech
375. Jivhā tassa dvidhā hoti, uragasseva Disampati,
Yo jānaṁ pucchito pañhaṁ, aññathā naṁ viyākare.
The one endowed with a forked tongue,
O King, is likened to a snake,
This happens to that person who,
When asked, answers with something false.
376. Jivhā tassa na bhavati, macchasseva Disampati,
Yo jānaṁ pucchito pañhaṁ, aññathā naṁ viyākare.
The one not endowed with a tongue,
O King, is likened to a fish,
This happens to that person who,
When asked, answers with something false.
377. Thiyo na tassa jāyanti, na pumā jāyare kule,
Yo jānaṁ pucchito pañhaṁ, aññathā naṁ viyākare.
To him females will not be born,
And nor will males be born to him,
This happens to that person who,
When asked, answers with something false.
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