Shloka 7
Ārjava, Satya, and the Virocana–Sudhanvan Exemplum
Udyoga-parva 35
मर्माण्यस्थीनि हृदयं तथासून् रूक्षा वाचो निर्दहन्तीह पुंसाम् । तस्माद् वाचमुषती रूक्षरूपां धर्मारामो नित्यशो वर्जयीत
marmāṇy asthīni hṛdayaṃ tathā sūn rūkṣā vāco nirdahantīha puṃsām | tasmād vācam uṣatīṃ rūkṣarūpāṃ dharmārāmo nityaśo varjayīta ||
Di dunia ini, kata-kata kasar membakar titik-titik vital, tulang, hati, bahkan napas kehidupan seseorang. Karena itu, orang yang bersukacita dalam dharma hendaknya senantiasa menjauhi ucapan yang membakar dan keras tabiatnya.
हंस उवाच
Educational Q&A
Speech can injure as deeply as physical violence: harsh, abrasive words are said to burn a person’s most sensitive inner and vital supports. Hence, a dharma-minded person should practice restraint and avoid speech that wounds or inflames.
In Udyoga Parva, within a didactic exchange, the speaker Haṃsa offers moral instruction. This verse specifically warns about the destructive power of harsh speech and recommends disciplined, dharma-aligned communication.