स सत्यकज्चुकं नाम प्रविष्टेन ततोडनृतम्
sa satyakajcukaṁ nāma praviṣṭena tato 'nṛtam
Arjuna dit : «Étant entré sous le déguisement d’un “manteau de vérité” (une apparence d’honnêteté), ce qui s’ensuivit fut en réalité mensonge.»
अजुन उवाच
The verse warns that untruth does not become righteous merely by being wrapped in the appearance of truth; ethical evaluation must look beyond outward justification to the actual nature of the act.
Arjuna comments on a situation where a claim or strategy is presented as truthful (a ‘cloak of truth’), but its outcome or intent is falsehood—reflecting the strained morality and tactical speech of the battlefield.