Do not speak harshly to anyone; those addressed harshly will respond in kind. Aggressive speech is painful; retaliation will reach you.

Māvoca pharusaṃ kañci — do not speak harshly to anyone: pharusa is harsh, rough, aggressive. The fourth precept of Buddhist sīla refers to right speech, and here it is made concrete: not the harsh word, not verbal aggression.

Vuttā paṭivadeyyu taṃ — those addressed harshly will respond in kind: the dynamics of verbal reciprocity are predictable. Aggressive speech generates aggressive response. This is a cycle the practitioner can break by choosing not to initiate.

Dukkhā hi sārambhakathā — aggressive speech is painful: sārambha is confrontation, provocation. The pain arrives not only as retaliation but the very act of speaking aggressively produces tension, stress and agitation in the one who does it.

Paṭidaṇḍā phuseyyu taṃ — retaliation will reach you: paṭidaṇḍa is counter-punishment, retaliation. The cycle of verbal violence is self-perpetuating until someone decides to break it. The practice of sammā vācā (right speech) is precisely that decision not to feed the cycle.