Shloka 9
नचोक्ता नैव चानुक्तास्त्वहिता: परुषा गिर: | प्रतिजल्पन्ति वै धीरा: सदा तूत्तमपूरुषा:
na coktā naiva cānuktās tv ahitāḥ paruṣā giraḥ | pratijalpanti vai dhīrāḥ sadā tūttama-pūruṣāḥ ||
ユディシュティラは言った。「苛烈で害ある言葉は、先に口にすべきではなく、返答としても口にすべきではない。卑しい心の者は、日常の語らいにさえ苦い言葉を吐く。荒言を先にせず、挑発されて荒く言い返す者は中ほどの者。だが、堅忍にして真に卓越した者は、他人が荒言を吐こうと吐くまいと、残酷で人を傷つける言葉を決して口から漏らさぬ。」
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches restraint in speech: harmful, harsh words should not be initiated and should not be returned even as retaliation. True excellence is shown by maintaining gentle, beneficial speech regardless of provocation.
In the Sabha Parva context, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a standard of noble conduct, classifying people by how they respond to harsh speech and presenting the ideal of the self-controlled ‘uttama-pūruṣa’ who never speaks injuriously.