[733] **"One should ward off the ear from village talk" (gāmakathāya āvaraye sotaṃ):** The thirty-two kinds of animal talk (tiracchānakathā) are called village talk. That is to say: talk of kings, talk of thieves, talk of great ministers, talk of armies, talk of dangers, talk of battles, talk of food, talk of drink, talk of clothing, talk of vehicles, talk of beds, talk of garlands, talk of scents, talk of relatives, talk of villages, talk of towns, talk of cities, talk of countries, talk of women, talk of men, talk of heroes, talk of streets, talk of wells, talk of those departed, miscellaneous talk, speculation about the world, speculation about the ocean, and talk of becoming this or that — thus, "from village talk." **"One should ward off the ear":** one should ward off, restrain, hold back, guard, protect, shut off, and cut off the ear from village talk. Hence, "one should ward off the ear from village talk."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.