Ekaṃ samayaṃ Bhagavā Sāvatthiyaṃ viharati Jetavane --pe--.2 Bhagavā etad avoca: "catūhi bhikkhave aṅgehi samannāgatā vācā subhāsitā hoti na dubbhāsitā anavajjā ca ananuvajjā ca viññūnaṃ, katamehi catūhi3: idha bhikkhave bhikkhu subhāsitañ ñeva bhāsati no dubbhāsitaṃ, dhammañ ñeva bhāsati no adhammaṃ, piyañ ñeva bhāsati no appiyaṃ, saccañ ñeva bhāsati no alikaṃ.
Imehi kho bhikkhave catūhi aṅgehi samannāgatā vācā subbāsitā hoti na dubbhāsitā anavajjā ca ananuvajjā ca viññūnan" ti.
Idam avoca Bhagavā, idaṃ vatvā Sugato athāparaṃ etad avoca Satthā:
450. "Subhāsitaṃ uttamam āhu santo,
dhammaṃ bhaṇe nādhammaṃ, taṃ dutiyaṃ,
piyaṃ bhaṇe nāppiyaṃ, taṃ tatiyaṃ,
saccaṃ bhaṇe nālikaṃ, taṃ catutthaṃ" ti. || Sn_III,3.1 ||