Matsyapurana 36.8

36.8

nāruntudaḥ syānna nṛśaṃsavādī na hīnataḥ param abhyādadīta
yayāsya vācā para udvijeta na tāṃ vadedruśatīṃ pāpalaulyām //

Yayâti.—"After making over charge of my realm, with the approval and advice of my ministers, and the people (Prakṛiti) to Puru, I told him: 'You will be the sovereign of the country lying between the Ganges and the Yamunâ. Your other brothers will be under you and ruling over the lands bordering on your kingdom'.' At the same time, the following piece of advice was also given to him:—"Man devoid of anger is superior to one full of it; man with forbearance is superior to one who is bereft of it; as man is superior to non-human beings, so a learned man is superior to an illiterate fool. One who shows forgiveness to another who abuses him in anger, consumes that angry being, and gets all his virtue. One should not utter such a harsh word as may cause pain to another. One should not accept anything from a low caste man. One should not use a speech that would grieve others. A harsh speaker, whose words pierce others like nails, should be considered a low creature, who goes to hell. A man should always win the admiration of high class people, and should always be defended by them at his back, should bear their criticism, obey their advice, and lead a good life. Harsh words penetrate a man like arrows and cause grief; they should therefore be avoided by sensible men. In the three worlds there is nothing superior to friendship, charity and sweet speech; consequently one should always be gentle in his speech and should show obedience to high class men and not curse any one."—5-13.