Living
Epigram XXXVI
Translated by Paul Elmer More (1898) · From A Century of Indian Epigrams (1898)
Living
Say thou what kindly is and truth,
Say not the true that wakens ruth,
Say not the kind that is not sooth.
Yet rather silence were preferred,
And second truth, and the law third,
And only fourth the kindly word.
Cite this poem
MLA
Bhartrihari. “Epigram XXXVI.” Translated by Paul Elmer More. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/bhartrihari/34/.
Chicago
Bhartrihari. “Epigram XXXVI.” Translated by Paul Elmer More. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/bhartrihari/34/.
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