Guard against verbal agitation, be restrained in speech. Having abandoned wrong verbal conduct, practice right verbal conduct.

Vacīpakopaṃ rakkheyya — guard against verbal agitation: vacī-pakopa is the irritation or agitation of speech — impulsive, hurtful, unnecessary words. Speech is the second field of discipline.

Vācāya saṃvuto siyā — be restrained in speech: verbal restraint is perhaps the most difficult of the three because speech arises quickly, before reflection can intervene.

Vacīduccaritaṃ hitvā vācāya sucaritaṃ care — having abandoned wrong verbal conduct, practice right verbal conduct: the four types of wrong verbal conduct in Buddhism are: lying, slander, hurtful words, and idle chatter.

The corresponding right verbal conduct is: truthfulness, words promoting harmony, kind words, and meaningful words. Sammā vācā (right speech) of the Noble Eightfold Path covers exactly this territory.