法苑珠林 45.10

45.10

At that time King Caṇḍapradyota, sitting face to face with him, heard the Nirgrantha revile himself; an unbearable feeling arose in his heart, his angry mind became displeased, and thoughts of harm arose. He immediately said, "Satyaka Nirgrantha, how can you speak of my faults and failings amidst the great assembly? From past times until now, no one has dared to look directly at me. Now you defame me; your crime deserves death!" Having spoken these words, he commanded the ministers, saying, "You must seize him and cut off his life-faculty!" The Nirgrantha was terrified and said, "Great King, do not act with such sudden malice now! I have good words. May the King grant me fearlessness for a brief moment and hear what I have to say." The king said, "What do you have to say? Speak quickly!" The Nirgrantha replied, "The Great King should know that I too have a fault: it comes from speaking too truthfully, not speaking falsely, and speaking according to fact. Because I am thus, before a greatly wicked person, before an impatient person, before a person devoid of compassion, before a person who acts impulsively—before such a person—I spoke such true words. The Great King should know that a sagacious person ought not to constantly speak true words at all times and in all places. One should carefully discern who can be spoken to and who cannot be spoken to, when it is the time to speak and when it is not the time to speak. You should know that true words are not loved by worldly people and are not praised as good." And he spoke a gāthā: