Aṅguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
XXII. Akkosaka-Vagga

The Book of the Fives

Chapter XXII: The Abuser

Sutta 214

Bahu-Bhāṇi Suttaṃ

A Man Full of Talk

[186]

Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

'Yes, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, there are these five disadvantages
to a person full of talk.

What five?

He talks falsely,
he talks maliciously,
talks roughly,
talks as a vain babbler¹
and on the breaking up of the body after death
he arises in the wayward way,
the ill way,
the abyss,
hell.

Monks, these are the five disadvantages
to a person full of talk.

Monks, there are these five advantages
to a person discreet² in talk.

What five?

He does not talk falsely,
he does not talk maliciously,
he does not talk roughly,
he does not talk as a vain babbler
and on the breaking up of the body after death
he arises in the happy world,
the heaven world.

¹ Sampha-p-palāpa; Cf. 2 Timothy ii, 16: 'Shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase unto more ungodliness.'