Date: June 16th 2008

From: Kauai_Hindu_Monastery@jnanadana.com
To: asnani@giaspn01.vsnl.net.in
Subject: Tirukural - Chapter 20: Avoidance of Pointless Speech
Date: Saturday, June 14, 2008 5:12 pm
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Tirukural
A daily chapter from South Indian saint Tiruvalluvar's Tirukural, "Holy Couplets."
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Chapter 20: Avoidance of Pointless Speech

Kural 191
Everyone is disgusted by a man
who offends one and all with meaningless chatter.
Kural 192
Uttering useless words to crowds is worse
than committing unkindnesses toward companions.
Kural 193
A long and pointless discourse itself declares
to all the speaker's lack of worth.
Kural 194
Worthless words are doubly unprofitable: the listeners'
enjoyment is lost, and the speaker's own virtues vanish.
Kural 195
Prestige and popularity flee the best of men
the moment they speak inane and useless words.
Kural 196
Do not call him a man who enjoys displaying
his own empty words. Rather, call him the chaff of men.
Kural 197
Let the wise, if they deem it necessary, speak even unpleasant
words, but it is good if they always refrain from pointless speech.
Kural 198
Even in search of extraordinary gains, the wise
will never speak trivial or ungainful words.
Kural 199
The wise, faultless and free from ignorance,
never utter pointless words, even forgetfully.
Kural 200
In your speaking, say only that which is purposeful.
Never utter words that lack purpose.