OBJECT OF REGARD - from Mahabharata

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WHAT IS THAT ONE ACT,

BY ACCOMPLISHING WHICH WITH CARE,

A PERSON MAY BECOME THE OBJECT OF REGARD WITH ALL CREATURES AND

ACQUIRE GREAT CELEBRITY?

 

Mahabharata, Santi Parva

Sec. LXXXIV

 

 

Vrihaspati said:

 

Agreeableness of speech is the one thing by practising which a person

may become an object of regard with all creatures and acquire great

celebrity. This is the one thing, which gives happiness to all. By

practising it, one may always obtain the love of all creatures.

 

The person who does not speak a word and whose face is always

furrowed with frowns, becomes an object of hatred with all creatures.

Abstention from agreeable speeches makes him so.

 

That person who, upon beholding others, addresses them first and does

so with smiles succeeds in making everyone gratified with him. Even

gifts, if not made with agreeable speeches, do not delight the

recipients, like rice without curry. If even the possessions of men

be taken away with sweet speeches, such sweetness of behaviour

succeeds in reconciling the robbed. A king that is desirous of even

inflicting chastisement should utter sweet words. Sweetness of speech

never fails of its purpose, while, at the same time it never pains

any heart. A person of good acts and good, agreeable, and sweet

speeches, has no equal.