Dighanikaya 1.9_2

1.9_2

Aparo nayo, ‘musā’ti abhūtaṃ atacchaṃ vatthu. ‘Vādo’ti tassa bhūtato tacchato viññāpanaṃ. Lakkhaṇato pana atathaṃ vatthuṃ tathato paraṃ viññāpetukāmassa tathāviññattisamuṭṭhāpikā cetanā musāvādo. So yamatthaṃ bhañjati, tassa appatāya appasāvajjo, mahantatāya mahāsāvajjo.

Another method: ‘falsehood’ is an unreal, untrue matter. ‘Speech’ is making it known as real, as true. By characteristic, however, false speech is the intention originating the making known in such a way, for one wishing to make another understand an untrue matter as true. In whatever measure it destroys a beneficial purpose, to that small degree it is of minor fault, to that great degree it is of major fault.