Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 16,163

Date uploaded in London – 4 September 2026

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

xxxx 

Points to be noted:

Adi Sankara, the greatest philosopher of India, and Tiru Valluvar, the greatest poet of Tamil Nadu, says lying is OK provided it results in something good (See Kural 292). All of us know how Lord Krishna made Yudhishthira to tell a lie in the middle of the war (Asvathama Dead Episode). In Tamil we have a proverb saying You can do a marriage . even by telling 1000 lies! Someone getting married id a good thing. So, their general policy is Ends justify means.

This chapter echoes Subramanya Bharati’s saying that one’s words become bright like light when there is truth inside.

In Kural 295 Vallluvar again repeats Bhagavad Gita’s DHAANAM and TAVAM which shows he hia memorised Bhagavad Gita; earlier we saw this in chapter two. Valluvar likes Sanskrit words.

Throughout Vedas and Upanishads, we see Sathyam/Truth is praised as God.

Kural 298 shows Bathing done by Hindus every day, unlike other communities

Mano Vaak, Kaayam is a cliché in Sanskrit scriptures. But Tamil wonder is that we have three separate words for them : UNMAI (mano),VAAIMAI( vaak)and MEIMAI (kaaya)

One must be truthful in WORD ,THOUGHT and DEED is insisted throughout Sanskrit scriptures, Tamil has separate words!

***

Shankara’s View

Adi Shankara in the Prasna Uttara Ratna Malika (Gem Garland of Questions and Answers) hymn says
There are 67 verses in question and answer format. In the 46th verse he puts one question ‘Who is not to be trusted?’ The answer is ‘one who as a rule utters lies’.
In the next verse (47), one of the questions is ‘on what occasions even a lie is sinless?’ ‘That which is uttered for the sake of protecting righteousness (Dharma)’.
One should not harm anyone while telling a truth and one can tell a lie if it can bring some good to someone.

Plato’s View

SM Diaz in his commentary on Tirukkural adds:
“The eminent Greek philosopher Plato, of a date prior to Thiruvalluvar , has discussed in his Republic, the concept of the Noble Lie, which statesmen may use under certain circumstances as an instrument of state-craft or education. G.C.Field who discusses this matter in his book entitled The Philosophy of Plato quotes as example, Mr Churchill’s ‘ terminological inexactitudes’, used during World War II, as a means of deceiving the enemy, in the national interest.”

“ In the Mahabharata, Dharmaputra’s true statement, drowned in noise and made to appear false, in order to produce a certain good result, was also considered to come under this category. In Tamil Nadu the proverb that Even a thousand lies would be worthwhile to bring about a marriage, is based on the same principle of Plato’s Noble Lie.”

Aswaththama Hatha: Narova Kunjarova: (Aswaththama dead; whether man or elephant)
Krishna had arranged to have an elephant named Aswatthma sacrificed in the battle. Yudhistira confirmed that Aswatthma had been killed adding in a lower tone Aswaththama ‘the elephant’ or man which had been killed. This news shattered Aswatthma ‘s father Drona who threw down his arms in despair. Unarmed Drona was killed by Dhristadymna . Story of Kausika in the Mahabharata also shows this type of approach

***

Hindu children are taught the story of Harishchandra from the Puranas; Mahatma Gandhi himself said that this story made the biggest impact in his life.

His mother used to tell him bed side stories.

***

Following Translations are used:

1.A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 ( B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan), Year 1933

2.S M Diaz, I G of Police- SMD, Year 2000

3.Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP, Year 1886

4.Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB

5.EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS, Year 1986

6.H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931

7.Tamil Original

****

Project Madurai website has all the Tamil books.

Part 48

 Chapter 30. வாய்மை – Veracity

***

1.3.6 Veracity

291.What is truthfulness? It is the utterance of such words that smack not of even the slightest taint of evil-.A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 ( B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan), Year 1933

***

291.If one’s speech does not wrong any living creature,

While being factually correct, that is truthfulness-.S M Diaz, I G of Police – SMD, Year 2000

***

291
You ask, in lips of men what ‘truth’ may be;
‘Tis speech from every taint of evil free.
Truth is the speaking of such words as are free from the least degree of evil (to others).- Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP, Year 1886

***

291.If “What is truth”? the question be,
It is to speak out evil-free.       Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB

***
291.Speech which causes no harm whatsoever to anyone is what is called truth — EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS, Year 1986

***

291.What is it that men truthfulness do call?

It is speech that is free from any taint of evil fruit- H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931

***
291. வாய்மை எனப்படுவது யாதெனின் யாதொன்றும்
தீமை இலாத சொலல்

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

292.Even falsehood carries with it’s the very stamp and ring of truth, if unmixed goo springs from it-– ANM+2

***

Even untruth might attain the value of truth,

If it is productive of unmixed good, without the least blemish-– SMD

***

292
Falsehood may take the place of truthful word,
If blessing, free from fault, it can afford.
Even falsehood has the nature of truth, if it confer a benefit that is free from fault. – GUP

***
292.E’en falsehood may for truth suffice,
When good it brings removing vice. – SB

***

292.If it will produce, unmixed good even falsehood may be considered truth- EVS

***

292.Even untruth may in truth’s own nature share,

If faultless good it can produce-HAP

***

292. பொய்ம்மையும் வாய்மை யிடத்த புரைதீர்ந்த
நன்மை பயக்கும் எனின்.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

293.speak not a word which you know in the innermost core of your being as false, lest your own conscience should smite you-– ANM+2

***

293.Do not utter falsehood about what your conscience knows to b true;

For later your own conscience will continue to hurt you-– SMD

***

293
Speak not a word which false thy own heart knows
Self-kindled fire within the false one’s spirit glows.
Let not a man knowingly tell a lie; for after he has told the lie, his mind will burn him (with the memory of his guilt). – GUP

***
293.Let not a man knowingly lie;
Conscience will scorch and make him sigh.       – SB

***

293.If a man should utter a lie consciously, his own mind would torture him for the lie uttered – EVS

***

293.Tell not a lie, even though your heart alone does know;

Your very heart will burn you for that lie-HAP

***

293. தன்னெஞ் சறிவது பொய்யற்க பொய்த்தபின்
தன்னெஞ்சே தன்னைச் சுடும்.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

294.behold the man who is true to the very marrow of his bones; he lives enshrined in the hearts of all-– ANM+2

***

294.If he lives true to his inner mind,

He lives in the hearts of all mankind-– SMD

***

294
True to his inmost soul who lives,- enshrined
He lives in souls of all mankind.
He who, in his conduct, preserves a mind free from deceit, will dwell in the minds of all men. – GUP

***

294.He lives in loving hearts of all
Who serves the Truth serene in soul.         – SB

***

294.If a man could conduct himself true to his own self he would be in the heart of all in the world –– EVS

***

294.Who in his soul doth walk from falsehood free,

Will live for ever in the souls of noble-minded men –HAP

***

294. உள்ளத்தால் பொய்யா தொழுகின் உலகத்தார்
உள்ளத்து ளெல்லாம் உளன்.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

295.More glorious than a benefactor and an ascetic is a sincere heart from whose depths words of truth gush out-– ANM+2

***

295.if one is truthful in thought and word,

It is better than doing penance and charity-– SMD

***

295
Greater is he who speaks the truth with full consenting mind.
Than men whose lives have penitence and charity combined.
He, who speaks truth with all his heart, is superior to those who make gifts and practise austerities. – GUP
***
295.To speak the truth from heart sincere
Is more than giving and living austere.        – SB

***

295.One who is true in thought and word is greater even those who perform Tapas (penance) and do charity — – EVS

***
295. மனத்தொடு வாய்மை மொழியின் தவத்தொடு
தானஞ்செய் வாரின் தலை.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

296.Who speaketh forth the truth with all his heart,

Is chief among those who do both alms and tapas too-HAP

***

296.Tere is no other renown greater than that which comes of truthfulness; for it easily unlocks the treasures of  every other virtue-– ANM+2

***

296.All the world esteems a truthful man, for whom

Other virtues come without any effort-– SMD

***

296
No praise like that of words from falsehood free;
This every virtue yields spontaneously.
There is no praise like the praise of never uttering a falsehood: without causing any suffering, it will lead to every virtue. – GUP

***

296.Not to lie brings all the praise
All virtues from Truth arise.        – SB

***
296.There is no renown equal to the reputation of truthfulness. It is capable of bringing all the other virtues in its train besides averting suffering hereafter– EVS –

***

296. பொய்யாமை அன்ன புகழில்லை எய்யாமை
எல்லா அறமும் தரும்.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

297.every other penance is superfluous to him that dwells in the light of truth-– ANM+2

***

297.If one speaks the truth and only truth,

He need not seek any other virtue-– SMD

***

297
If all your life be utter truth, the truth alone,
‘Tis well, though other virtuous acts be left undone.
If a man has the power to abstain from falsehood, it will be well with him, even though he practise no other virtue. – GUP

***

297.Lie not lie not. Naught else you need
All virtues are in Truth indeed.        – SB

***
297.If one could safeguard oneself against flinching from truth one need practise no other virtue — – EVS

***

297. பொய்யாமை பொய்யாமை ஆற்றின் அறம்பிற
செய்யாமை செய்யாமை நன்று.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
298.Water cleanses the body; truth cleanses the soul-– ANM+2

***

298.Water makes the external cleanliness;

Truthfulness is the detergent of the heart-– SMD

***

298
Outward purity the water will bestow;
Inward purity from truth alone will flow.
Purity of body is produced by water and purity of mind by truthfulness. – GUP

***

298.Water makes you pure outward
Truth renders you pure inward.     – SB

***
298.Outward purity may be secured by the use of water. Inward purity of the heart comes from truthfulness.- – EVS
***

298.An outward purity by water’s aid is caused;

But inward purity by truthfulness is shown-HAP

***

298. புறந்தூய்மை நீரான் அமையும் அகந்தூய்மை
வாய்மையால் காணப் படும்.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

299.All the lights that shine in the realm of nature are not lights in the eyes of the sages; for to them, the lamp of truth, which chases away the hidden darkness of their soul, is the only light-– ANM+2

***

299.Lamps do not give the light that holy men desire;

It is the light of Truth that illuminates their path –– SMD

***

299
Every lamp is not a lamp in wise men’s sight;
That’s the lamp with truth’s pure radiance bright.
All lamps of nature are not lamps; the lamp of truth is the lamp of the wise. – GUP

***
299.All lights are not lights for the wise;
Truth light is light bright like sun-light         – SB

***
299.All lamps are of no avail. The light of truth is the only is the only lamp which the wise cherish- – EVS

***

299.Not every kind of lamp is really a Light.

The lamp of Truth alone to wise men is Light- HAP

***

299. எல்லா விளக்கும் விளக்கல்ல சான்றோர்க்குப்
பொய்யா விளக்கே விளக்கு.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

300.In my all-ceaseless wanderings in the world of thought and imagination, I have found nothing worthier than truthfulness-– ANM+2

***

300.Of all things confirmed in our experience,

There is nothing more precious than truth –– SMD

***

300
Of all good things we’ve scanned with studious care,
There’s nought that can with truthfulness compare.
Amidst all that we have seen (described) as real (excellence), there is nothing so good as truthfulness. – GUP

***

300.Of all the things we here have seen
Nothing surpasses Truth serene !         – SB

***

300.In all true scriptures we have known, nothing is praised so highly as truthfulness– – EVS

***

300.Of all true things that we have ever known

Not one with truthfulness can ever compare- HAP

***

300. யாமெய்யாக் கண்டவற்றுள் இல்லை எனைத்தொன்றும்
வாய்மையின் நல்ல பிற.

To be continued….

Tags-Valluvar justifies Lying! End justifies Means! Tirukkural Encyclopaedia- Chapter 30 வாய்மை – Veracity