Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 40
Vāmanadeva Praises Bali; the Measure of Three Steps; Śukrācārya Warns Against the Gift
तद् यथा वृक्ष उन्मूल: शुष्यत्युद्वर्ततेऽचिरात् । एवं नष्टानृत: सद्य आत्मा शुष्येन्न संशय: ॥ ४० ॥
tad yathā vṛkṣa unmūlaḥ śuṣyaty udvartate ’cirāt evaṁ naṣṭānṛtaḥ sadya ātmā śuṣyen na saṁśayaḥ
Wie ein Baum, der mitsamt der Wurzel herausgerissen wird, sogleich fällt und bald vertrocknet, so vertrocknet auch der Körper ohne Zweifel sofort, wenn das „Unwahre“, das ihn trägt, ausgerissen wird.
In this regard, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī says:
FAQs
This verse teaches that truthfulness is like the root of a tree—when it is destroyed by falsehood, one’s inner life and spiritual vitality quickly wither.
In the context of Bali’s promise to Vāmana, the Bhagavatam emphasizes that breaking truth and vows ruins a person from within, whereas integrity sustains dharma even under pressure.
Guard your commitments and speak truthfully—because consistent honesty preserves inner strength, clarity, and devotion, while habitual deception erodes character and spiritual progress.