O king, speech should always be free from the nine verbal faults and the nine faults of judgement. It should also, while setting forth the meaning with clearness, be possessed of the eighteen well-known merits.
सुलभोवाच नवभिनवभिश्चैव दोषैर्वाग्बुद्धिदूषणैः। अपेतमुपपन्नार्थमष्टादशगुणान्वितम्॥