[978] **One should not form an intention toward the practice of disparaging speech about people (janavādadhammāya na cetayeyya)** — "people" (janā): khattiyas, brāhmaṇas, vessas, suddas, householders and those gone forth, devas and humans. One should not form an intention — should not generate volition (cetanā), should not generate a thought of mind, should not generate attention (manasikāra) — toward the speaking against, the disparaging, the blaming, the censuring, the discrediting, or the spreading of dispraise of people, whether on account of failure in morality (sīlavipatti), failure in conduct (ācāravipatti), failure in view (diṭṭhivipatti), or failure in livelihood (ājīvavipatti). Hence, "one should not form an intention toward the practice of disparaging speech about people." Therefore the Blessed One said:
When admonished with words, one who is mindful should welcome it;
one should break up hardness of heart (khila) toward one's companions in the holy life;
one should utter wholesome speech, and not beyond the proper limit;
one should not form an intention toward the practice of disparaging speech about people.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.