Deep Commentary

The Buddha taught this verse at the Jetavana monastery, related to the monk Kundadhana. It highlights the severe karmic consequences of wrong speech, especially harsh and divisive words. The tongue is like a double-edged sword; when driven by an angry mind, it can cause immense destruction. Buddhist teachings recount stories of individuals suffering hundreds of lifetimes in lower realms simply for using abusive language, such as a teacher who angrily called his students 'dumb as cows' or a novice who mocked an Arhat's chanting as sounding like a barking dog. Therefore, one must be deeply mindful of their speech, for harsh words inevitably bring retaliation and suffering.