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
स्त्रीला वश करण्यासाठीची मधुर चापलुसी, विनोद, विवाहविधी, उपजीविकेसाठीचा व्यवहार, प्राणसंकट, गो-रक्षण व ब्राह्मणधर्माचे रक्षण, तसेच शत्रूच्या हातातून कोणाचे संरक्षण—या प्रसंगी असत्य निंद्य मानले जात नाही।
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.