Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 43
Vāmanadeva Praises Bali; the Measure of Three Steps; Śukrācārya Warns Against the Gift
स्त्रीषु नर्मविवाहे च वृत्त्यर्थे प्राणसङ्कटे । गोब्राह्मणार्थे हिंसायां नानृतं स्याज्जुगुप्सितम् ॥ ४३ ॥
strīṣu narma-vivāhe ca vṛtty-arthe prāṇa-saṅkaṭe go-brāhmaṇārthe hiṁsāyāṁ nānṛtaṁ syāj jugupsitam
স্ত্ৰীক বশ কৰিবলৈ মিঠা চাটুকাৰত, ধেমালিত, বিবাহ-অনুষ্ঠানত, জীৱিকা অৰ্জনত, প্ৰাণসঙ্কটত, গোৰক্ষা আৰু ব্ৰাহ্মণ্য-ধৰ্ম ৰক্ষাত, বা শত্রুৰ হাতৰ পৰা কাকো বচাবলৈ—এই ক্ষেত্ৰত মিছা নিন্দনীয় নহয়।
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Nineteenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Lord Vāmanadeva Begs Charity from Bali Mahārāja.”
FAQs
This verse states that in specific situations—joking, marriage dealings, livelihood, life-threatening danger, and protecting cows and brāhmaṇas—untruth is not counted as blameworthy.
He highlights that dharma is applied with discernment: preserving life and protecting sacred social pillars like cows and brāhmaṇas can override literal truth-telling when harm would result.
Use truth as the norm, but in genuine emergencies or to prevent serious harm, choose speech that protects life and wellbeing while avoiding selfish deception.