[575] **Why should he speak falsely?** — "Why" (kissa hetu): for what reason (kiṃkāraṇā), from what condition (kiṃpaccayā) — thus, "why." **Should he speak falsely** (musā bhaṇe): he would utter falsehood (mosavajja), utter false speech (musāvāda), utter ignoble speech. Here someone, gone to a council, or gone to an assembly, or gone into the midst of relatives, or into the midst of a guild, or into the midst of the royal court, brought forward and questioned as a witness: "Come, good man, tell what you know" — not knowing, he says "I know"; or knowing, he says "I do not know"; or not seeing, he says "I see"; or seeing, he says "I do not see." Thus, for his own sake, or for another's sake, or for the sake of some trifling material gain, he speaks deliberate falsehood. This is called falsehood (mosavajja).
Furthermore, false speech comes about in three ways: before [speaking] there is in him [the thought], "I shall speak falsehood"; while speaking there is [the thought], "I am speaking falsehood"; having spoken there is [the thought], "Falsehood has been spoken by me." In these three ways false speech comes about.
Furthermore, false speech comes about in four ways: before [speaking] there is in him [the thought], "I shall speak falsehood" … False speech comes about in five ways, in six ways, in seven ways, in eight ways: before [speaking] there is in him [the thought], "I shall speak falsehood"; while speaking there is [the thought], "I am speaking falsehood"; having spoken there is [the thought], "Falsehood has been spoken by me" — having misrepresented his view, misrepresented his conviction, misrepresented his preference, misrepresented his perception, misrepresented his state: in these eight ways false speech comes about.
For what reason would he speak, declare, explain, or express falsehood? — thus, "why should he speak falsely?" Therefore the Elder Piṅgiya said:
"I shall recite in response the Pārāyana" (so said the venerable Piṅgiya).
"(As he saw, so he declared) —
the stainless one, of wisdom vast as the earth,
free from sensual desire, free from the jungle [of craving], the nāga —
why should he speak falsely?"
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.