Reading guide
Cruelty in manner, not only content
This project's own reading: “pharusavācā” (“harsh speech”) concerns speech's own tone and delivery — abusive, cutting words — a category this project notes is distinct from divisive speech's own relational aim, even though both cause harm through the same medium.
Key terms
appakā te sattā ye pharusāya vācāya paṭiviratā — “the sentient beings who refrain from harsh speech are few” — the rare category, matching the tiny pinch of dirt
pharusavācā — “harsh speech” — abusive or cutting words, the sixth of the ten courses of unwholesome action
appaṭiviratā — “those who don't refrain” — the vast majority category, matching the whole earth
… — the elision marking, standing in for the fingernail demonstration already given in full at SN 56.61-62
chaṭṭhaṁ — “the sixth” — this discourse's own root text confirming its own position directly, read rather than assumed
The text
Every genuinely translated fragment given in the consulted English source, which itself preserves the elision back to SN 56.61's own full statement. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
§1“… the sentient beings who refrain from harsh speech are few, while those who don’t refrain are many. …”
· · ·
Self-check quiz
3 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 3
What does this discourse claim about those who refrain from harsh speech?
Correct: A. Confirmed by direct reading — matching this vagga's own recurring formula.
Question 2 of 3
How does this project's own reading distinguish harsh speech from divisive speech?
Correct: A. This project's own reading distinguishing two related but distinct verbal categories.
Question 3 of 3
What position does this discourse occupy in this vagga's own ten-discourse sequence?
Correct: A. Confirmed by direct reading of the root text's own closing marker "Chaṭṭhaṁ" ("sixth").