Śānti Veda · The Work of Just Peace
विवाद-मर्यादा
vivāda-maryādā
Mūla · Original verse
Sanskrit
Anvaya
Plain English meaning
Difference of opinion need not become enmity, nor debate humiliation. Use rigorous reasoning with speech joined to dignity.
Kāvya
Poetic rendering
Let arguments be sharp enough to divide error from truth, never sharp for the pleasure of cutting a person.
Manana
Contemplation
Civility is not false balance. Dangerous falsehood can be rejected plainly while evidence is shown, affected people are protected, and human worth is retained.
Prayoga
Civilizational practice
Critique the strongest fair version of a view. Avoid ridicule, motive invention, identity attack, interruption, and manipulation of the audience.
Param Veda Upaniṣad · One-to-One Bhāṣya
Sit near the question
The companion moves from words and meaning to inward reflection, public application, boundaries against misuse, dialogue, and practice.
Padārtha · Key terms
mata-bheda — difference of view; vaira — enmity; vivāda — debate; apamānana — humiliation; yukti — reasoning; māna — dignity
Anvaya · Sequence of meaning
Difference of opinion need not become enmity, nor debate humiliation. Use rigorous reasoning with speech joined to dignity.
Bhāṣya · Commentary
Disagreement becomes civilised when the argument may be rigorous while the person remains secure in equal worth. The hymn does not ask reason to become dull. It asks speech to cut error rather than identity, and to leave the defeated claim without manufacturing a defeated human being.
Loka-saṃgraha · Civilizational application
Deliberative bodies should enforce relevance, evidence, equal time, correction of misquotation, and protection from slur, interruption, and threats. The strongest fair version of an opposing view should be answered, not a convenient caricature.
Maryādā · Boundary against misuse
Civility is not false balance. Incitement, demonstrable falsehood, and denial of equal humanity may be rejected plainly and limited where they create unlawful harm. Respect for persons does not require equal platform for every tactic or claim.
Praśna–Uttara
Teacher and student
Prayoga · Practice
- 1 State an opponent’s view in a form they accept before criticising it.
- 2 Remove ridicule and claims about hidden motive from one argument.
Saṅgati · Canonical correspondences