Chapter 65

Verbal Assault

A snort of contempt, a cough, and whatever is censured in the world, to imitate or repeat it, is called verbal assault (vākpāruṣya). // K_768 //

It is remembered as three-fold, due to its being harsh, abusive, or grave. An accusation is to be known as harsh; what is signified by a physical defect is abusive; and the wise call an invective with terms causing loss of caste grave. // K_769 //

When one reviles another with terms denoting non-existent or existent defects in his limbs, that speech is remembered by the wise as harsh. // K_770 //

When one, out of anger, speaks words that cause degradation regarding another's conduct, region, or family, that is remembered by the wise as abusive. // K_771 //

That speech which employs terms for major sins, which causes passion and hatred, or which brings about a loss of caste, is known as grave speech. // K_772 //

He who, out of anger, proclaims faults in one who has no faults, or claims to know the virtues of one who has none, or uses another's name in a dispute, one should know that man as guilty of verbal abuse. // K_773 //

He who, for a malicious reason, proclaims faults in one who is faultless, and who speaks in insinuation, one should know that man as guilty of verbal abuse. // K_774 //

For one who says, "I said it out of delusion, carelessness, rivalry, or affection, and I will not speak thus again," one should fix half the fine. // K_775 //

Where the mention of an outcast is for the purpose of avoidance, there is no fault in the statement, if one can prove it. // K_776 //

Otherwise, he would be equally at fault; in case of a false statement, the highest (fine) is remembered. One should convict a man guilty of verbal abuse with great care and investigation. // K_777 //

The king should carefully investigate what has been reported untruthfully. For those who are habitual liars, the cutting out of the tongue is the purification. // K_778 //