Shloka 4
Bali Mahārāja Upholds Truth; Vāmana Reveals the Universal Form and Takes the Two Steps
न ह्यसत्यात् परोऽधर्म इति होवाच भूरियम् । सर्वं सोढुमलं मन्ये ऋतेऽलीकपरं नरम् ॥ ४ ॥
na hy asatyāt paro ’dharma iti hovāca bhūr iyam sarvaṁ soḍhum alaṁ manye ṛte ’līka-paraṁ naram
అసత్యం కన్నా గొప్ప అధర్మం లేదు అని భూమాత చెప్పింది. నేను అన్నిటినీ భరించగలను; కాని అబద్ధప్రియుడైన మనిషిని కాదు.
On the surface of the earth there are many great mountains and oceans that are very heavy, and mother earth has no difficulty carrying them. But she feels very much overburdened when she carries even one person who is a liar. It is said that in Kali-yuga lying is a common affair: māyaiva vyāvahārike ( Bhāg. 12.2.3 ). Even in the most common dealings, people are accustomed to speaking so many lies. No one is free from the sinful reactions of speaking lies. Under the circumstances, one can just imagine how this has overburdened the earth, and indeed the entire universe.
FAQs
This verse states that there is no adharma greater than asatya (untruth), and that even the Earth cannot tolerate a person devoted to deception.
Bhū-devī (Mother Earth) speaks this line, personifying the moral order that supports dharma.
Practice honesty in speech and intent—avoid manipulation and half-truths—because devotion to falsehood erodes character and dharma, which this verse identifies as the gravest irreligion.