Episode 4: sathyam brooyaath priyam brooyaath na brooyath sathyamapriyam | priyam cha naanrtham brooyaath aeSha Dharmah sanaathanah ||
सत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयात् न ब्रूयात् सत्यमप्रियं |प्रियं च नानृतं ब्रूयात् एष धर्मः सनातनः ||sathyam brooyaath priyam brooyaath na brooyath sathyamapriyam |priyam cha naanrtham brooyaath aeSha Dharmah sanaathanah ||Meaning: Speak the truth. Speak pleasantly. Speak not of an unpleasant truth.Speak not a lie even if it’s appealing. This precept is true eternally.In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini and Madhavi Nadig discuss what makes for good communication.This subhashitha gives us ideas to make us better communicators. Speak truthfully. Do not hurt others with your speech. Do not unnecessarily bring up unpleasant things in conversations. If you must convey bad news, deliver it with sensitivity toward the receiver. Do not lie, even if the lie sounds good.Though this is an ancient subhashitha, its truth has withstood the test of time.Dr. Hema Malini quotes a similar Kannada proverb. “ಮಾತು ಬಲ್ಲವನಿಗೆ ಜಗಳವಿಲ್ಲ, ಊಟ ಬಲ್ಲವನಿಗೆ ರೋಗವಿಲ್ಲ (maathu ballavanige jagaLavilla, oota ballavanige rogavilla).” It translates to “Command over your speech gets you out of fights, while controlled eating habits keep you away from diseases.”Madhavi draws parallels with conducting user research. In interviews, she asks users to speak freely and convey their true opinions, without lying to impress or please the team of researchers. While the good comes out easily, she has to urge them to share the negative opinions as well, since they withhold them to avoid hurting her team’s feelings.Using the power of your speech, you can make others laugh and be happy. Dr. Hema Malini quotes from Mankutimmana Kagga (ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮನ ಕಗ್ಗ).ನಗುವು ಸಹಜದ ಧರ್ಮ; ನಗಿಸುವುದು ಪರಧರ್ಮ ।ನಗುವ ಕೇಳುತ ನಗುವುದತಿಶಯದ ಧರ್ಮ ॥ನಗುವ ನಗಿಸುವ ನಗಿಸಿ ನಗುತ ಬಾಳುವ ವರವ ।ಮಿಗೆ ನೀನು ಬೇಡಿಕೊಳೊ – ಮಂಕುತಿಮ್ಮ ॥ ೯೧೭ ॥This translates toLaughing is natural; making others laugh (or be happy) is noble |Hearing others laugh and joining them in laughter (i.e. celebrating others’ happiness) is extraordinarily noble ||Living to laugh, make others laugh, and feel happy seeing others happy |Seek such a boon for yourself - Manku Timma ||What do you think about the concepts shared in this subhashitha?@susambhashanam on Instagram & YouTube
