Shloka 153

Satya–Anṛta Viveka (Discrimination between Truth and Falsehood) | सत्य–अनृत विवेकः

Devanagari script

श्रेयस्तत्रानृतं वक्तुं सत्यादिति विचारितम्‌ | यदि न बतानेसे उस धनीका बचाव हो जाता हो तो किसी तरह वहाँ कुछ बोले ही नहीं; परंतु यदि बोलना अनिवार्य हो जाय और न बोलनेसे लुटेरोंके मनमें संदेह पैदा होने लगे तो वहाँ सत्य बोलनेकी अपेक्षा झूठ बोलनेमें ही कल्याण है; यही इस विषयमें विचारपूर्वक निर्णय किया गया है

Transliteration

śreyas tatrānṛtaṁ vaktuṁ satyād iti vicāritam |

Translation

Bhishma said: In such a situation, it has been thoughtfully concluded that speaking an untruth is more beneficial than speaking the truth. When truth would expose a wealthy person to harm—such as being seized by robbers—and silence is not possible because it would arouse suspicion, then a protective falsehood is judged to be the better course in dharma.

Word by Word

[{'term''śreyas', 'definition': 'the better good

what is more beneficial or conducive to welfare'}, {'term''tatra', 'definition': 'there

in that situation/context'}, {'term''anṛtam', 'definition': 'untruth

false statement (as opposed to satya)'}, {'term''vaktum', 'definition': 'to speak

to say'}, {'term''satyāt', 'definition': 'than truth

from/compared to truth'}, {'term''iti', 'definition': 'thus

in this manner (marking the conclusion/quotation)'}, {'term''vicāritam', 'definition': 'considered, deliberated, decided after reflection'}]

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When truth-telling would directly cause harm, and silence is not a viable option, dharma may favor a protective untruth; the criterion is śreyas—what best preserves welfare and prevents injury.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma in the Shanti Parva, he addresses a practical ethical case: if speaking the truth would enable wrongdoers (e.g., robbers) to harm a person, then after deliberation it is deemed better to speak a falsehood rather than facilitate harm through truth.