When Truth and Falsehood Change Places

Verse 1 (12.109.1)

कथं धर्मे स्थातुमिच्छन्नरो वर्तेत भारत । तत्त्वं जिज्ञासमानाय प्रब्रूहि भरतर्षभ ॥

kathaṃ dharme sthātumicchannaro varteta bhārata | tattvaṃ jijñāsamānāya prabrūhi bharatarṣabha

O Bharata, how should a man conduct himself who wishes to stand firm in dharma? Tell me, O best of the Bharatas, for I seek to know the truth of it.

Verse 2 (12.109.2)

सत्यं चैवानृतं चोभे लोकानावृत्य तिष्ठतः । तयोः किमाचरेद्राजन्पुरुषो धर्मनिश्चितः ॥

satyaṃ caivānṛtaṃ cobhe lokānāvṛtya tiṣṭhataḥ | tayoḥ kimācaredrājanpuruṣo dharmaniścitaḥ

Truth and falsehood both stand covering the worlds. Of the two, O king, which should a man resolved on dharma practise?

Verse 3 (12.109.3)

किंस्वित्सत्यं किमनृतं किंस्विद्धर्म्यं सनातनम् । कस्मिन्काले वदेत्सत्यं कस्मिन्वाऽप्यनृतं वदेत् ॥

kiṃsvitsatyaṃ kimanṛtaṃ kiṃsviddharmyaṃ sanātanam | kasminkāle vadetsatyaṃ kasminvā'pyanṛtaṃ vadet

What is truth, what is falsehood, and what is the eternal dharma? At what time should one speak the truth, and at what time speak falsehood?

Verse 4 (12.109.4)

सत्यस्य वचनं साधु न सत्याद्विद्यते परम् । यत्तु लोके सुदुर्ज्ञेयं तत्ते वक्ष्यामि भारत ॥

satyasya vacanaṃ sādhu na satyādvidyate param | yattu loke sudurjñeyaṃ tatte vakṣyāmi bhārata

To speak the truth is good; nothing is higher than truth. But what is very hard to know in the world, that I shall tell you, O Bharata.

Verse 5 (12.109.5)

भवेत्सत्यं न वक्तव्यं वक्तव्यमनृतं भवेत् । यत्रानृतं भवेत्सत्यं सत्यं वाऽप्यनृतं भवेत् ॥

bhavetsatyaṃ na vaktavyaṃ vaktavyamanṛtaṃ bhavet | yatrānṛtaṃ bhavetsatyaṃ satyaṃ vā'pyanṛtaṃ bhavet

There are cases where truth should not be spoken and falsehood should be spoken: where falsehood would become truth, or truth would become falsehood.

Verse 6 (12.109.6)

तादृशो वर्धते पापो यत्र सत्यमनिश्चितम् । सत्यानृते विनिश्चित्य ततो भवति धर्मवित् ॥

tādṛśo vardhate pāpo yatra satyamaniścitam | satyānṛte viniścitya tato bhavati dharmavit

Where the truth is uncertain, sin of that kind grows. Only after settling which is truth and which is falsehood does a man become one who knows dharma.

Note on the text: Corrected ततो भवति धर्मवि → ततो भवति धर्मवित् (misprint in Wikisource; truncated word (final त् lost); the critical edition reads dharmavit).

Verse 7 (12.109.7)

अप्यनार्योऽकृतप्रज्ञः पुरुषोऽप्यतिदारुणः । सुमहत्प्राप्नुयात्पुण्यं बलाकोऽन्धवधादिव ॥

apyanāryo'kṛtaprajñaḥ puruṣo'pyatidāruṇaḥ | sumahatprāpnuyātpuṇyaṃ balāko'ndhavadhādiva

Even an ignoble man, of untrained mind and very cruel, may gain very great merit, as Balaka did by killing a blind one.

Verse 8 (12.109.8)

किमाश्चर्यं च यन्मूढो धर्मकामोऽप्यधर्मवित् । सुमहत्प्राप्नुयात्पुण्यं गङ्गायामिव कौशिकः ॥

kimāścaryaṃ ca yanmūḍho dharmakāmo'pyadharmavit | sumahatprāpnuyātpuṇyaṃ gaṅgāyāmiva kauśikaḥ

And what wonder is it that a fool, though desiring dharma and ignorant of it, should gain very great merit, as Kaushika did on the Ganga?

Verse 9 (12.109.9)

तादृशोऽयमनुप्रश्नो यत्र धर्मः सुदुर्विदः । दुष्कारं चापि संख्यातुं तर्केणात्र व्यवस्यति ॥

tādṛśo'yamanupraśno yatra dharmaḥ sudurvidaḥ | duṣkāraṃ cāpi saṃkhyātuṃ tarkeṇātra vyavasyati

Such is this question, in which dharma is very hard to know. It is hard even to reckon it up; here one decides by reasoning.

Verse 10 (12.109.10)

प्रभवार्थाय भूतानां धर्मप्रवचनं कृतम् । यः स्यात्प्रभवसंयुक्तः स धर्म इति निश्चयः ॥

prabhavārthāya bhūtānāṃ dharmapravacanaṃ kṛtam | yaḥ syātprabhavasaṃyuktaḥ sa dharma iti niścayaḥ

Dharma was taught for the prosperity of beings. What is joined with prosperity, that is dharma: this is the settled view.

Note on the text: Wikisource's second line (यः स्यात्प्रभवसंयुक्तः) against CE yat syād ahiṃsāsaṃyuktaṃ is kept as a variant.

Verse 11 (12.109.11)

अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्तपो दानं दमो मतिः । अनसूयाऽप्यमात्सर्यमनीर्ष्या शीलमेव च ॥

ahiṃsā satyamakrodhastapo dānaṃ damo matiḥ | anasūyā'pyamātsaryamanīrṣyā śīlameva ca

Non-harming, truth, freedom from anger, austerity, giving, self-control, right understanding, freedom from fault-finding, freedom from malice, freedom from envy, and good conduct:

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick opening this passage (verses 11-13 are printed as one quotation). Corrected असामर्थ्यम् → अमात्सर्यम् (misprint in Wikisource; "incapacity" makes no sense in this list of virtues, and the critical edition reads amātsaryam). Not in the critical edition's constituted text: verses 11-13 are the CE star passage 12.110.10d*0252_01-06, and this verse is lines 1-2 (ahiṃsā satyam akrodhas tapo dānaṃ damo matiḥ / anasūyāpy amātsaryam anīrṣyā śīlam eva ca).

Verse 12 (12.109.12)

एष धर्मः कुरुश्रेष्ठ कथितः परमेष्ठिना । ब्रह्मणा देवदेवेन अयं चैव सनातनः ॥

eṣa dharmaḥ kuruśreṣṭha kathitaḥ parameṣṭhinā | brahmaṇā devadevena ayaṃ caiva sanātanaḥ

this is dharma, O best of the Kurus, as declared by the Supreme Lord Brahma, the god of gods; and it is eternal.

Note on the text: Corrected कथितं परमेष्ठिना → कथितः परमेष्ठिना (misprint in Wikisource; must agree with धर्मः; the critical edition star passage reads kathitaḥ). Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 3-4 of the CE star passage 12.110.10d*0252_03-04 (eṣa dharmaḥ kuruśreṣṭha kathitaḥ parameṣṭhinā / brahmaṇā devadevena ayaṃ caiva sanātanaḥ); see verse 11.

Verse 13 (12.109.13)

अस्मिन्धर्मे स्थितो राजन्नरो भद्राणि पश्यति । श्रौतो वधात्मको धर्म अहिंसापरमार्थिकः ॥

asmindharme sthito rājannaro bhadrāṇi paśyati | śrauto vadhātmako dharma ahiṃsāparamārthikaḥ

A man established in this dharma, O king, sees good fortune. The dharma enjoined by the Veda involves killing, but the ultimate truth of it is non-harming.

Note on the text: Removed the stray double daṇḍa and the closing quote mark that end the quotation begun at verse 11. Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 5-6 of the CE star passage 12.110.10d*0252_05-06 (asmin dharme sthito rājan naro bhadrāṇi paśyati / śrauto vadhātmako dharma ahiṃsā paramārthikaḥ).

Verse 14 (12.109.14)

धारणाद्धर्ममित्याहुर्धर्मेण विधृताः प्रजाः । यः स्याद्धारणसंयुक्तः स धर्म इति निश्चयः ॥

dhāraṇāddharmamityāhurdharmeṇa vidhṛtāḥ prajāḥ | yaḥ syāddhāraṇasaṃyuktaḥ sa dharma iti niścayaḥ

They call it dharma because it upholds; the people are held together by dharma. What is joined with upholding, that is dharma: this is the settled view.

Note on the text: Corrected स धर्म इति निश्चः → स धर्म इति निश्चयः (misprint in Wikisource; truncated word (final य lost); the critical edition reads niścayaḥ).

Verse 15 (12.109.15)

अहिंसार्थाय भूतानां धर्मप्रवचनं कृतम् । यः स्यादहिंसासंयुक्तः स धर्म इति निश्चयः ॥

ahiṃsārthāya bhūtānāṃ dharmapravacanaṃ kṛtam | yaḥ syādahiṃsāsaṃyuktaḥ sa dharma iti niścayaḥ

Dharma was taught for the sake of non-harming of beings. What is joined with non-harming, that is dharma: this is the settled view.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: the couplet is the CE star passage 12.110.10d*0251_01-02 (ahiṃsārthāya bhūtānāṃ dharmapravacanaṃ kṛtam / yat syād ahiṃsāsaṃyuktaṃ sa dharma iti niścayaḥ); Wikisource यः स्यात् for yat syāt is kept as a variant. The alignment found no match.

Verse 16 (12.109.16)

श्रुतिं धर्मं वदन्त्यन्ये मानान्याहुः परे जनाः । न च तं स्वभ्यसूयामो न हि सर्वं विधीयते ॥

śrutiṃ dharmaṃ vadantyanye mānānyāhuḥ pare janāḥ | na ca taṃ svabhyasūyāmo na hi sarvaṃ vidhīyate

Some say that the Shruti is dharma; other people speak of the other authorities. We do not find fault with that, yet not everything is laid down there.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match. = CE 12.110.12 (śrutidharma iti hy eke nety āhur apare janāḥ / na tu tat pratyasūyāmo na hi sarvaṃ vidhīyate); Wikisource's श्रुतिं धर्मं वदन्त्यन्ये मानान्याहुः and न च तं स्वभ्यसूयामः are kept as variants.

Verse 17 (12.109.17)

येऽन्यायेन जिहीर्षन्तो धनमिच्छन्ति कर्हिचित् । तेभ्यस्तु न तदाख्येयं स धर्म इति निश्चयः ॥

ye'nyāyena jihīrṣanto dhanamicchanti karhicit | tebhyastu na tadākhyeyaṃ sa dharma iti niścayaḥ

Those who wish to seize wealth by unjust means, whenever they ask for it: to them it should not be disclosed. That is dharma: this is the settled view.

Verse 18 (12.109.18)

अकूजनेन चेन्मोक्षो नावकूजेत्कथंचन । अवश्यं कूजितव्यं वा शङ्केरन्वाऽप्यकूजनात् ॥

akūjanena cenmokṣo nāvakūjetkathaṃcana | avaśyaṃ kūjitavyaṃ vā śaṅkeranvā'pyakūjanāt

If release can be had by silence, one should by no means speak out; but if one must speak, or they would grow suspicious from his silence,

Verse 19 (12.109.19)

येऽन्ये वाऽप्यनृतं कुर्युः कुर्यादेव विचारणम् । श्रेयस्तत्रानृतं वक्तुं सत्यादिति विचारितम् ॥

ye'nye vā'pyanṛtaṃ kuryuḥ kuryādeva vicāraṇam | śreyastatrānṛtaṃ vaktuṃ satyāditi vicāritam

or in other cases where people might act falsely, one should deliberate carefully; in such a case it has been judged better to speak falsehood than truth.

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick opening this passage (verses 19-21 are printed as one quotation). Line 1 is the CE star line 12.110.14d*0254_01 (ye 'nye cāpy anṛtaṃ kuryuḥ kuryād eva vicāraṇam; Wikisource वाऽप्यनृतं for cāpy anṛtaṃ is kept as a variant); line 2 = CE 12.110.15a. The alignment found no match.

Verse 20 (12.109.20)

अक्षयाद्यो वधं राजन्कुर्यादेवाविचारयन् । अबुध्वाऽनुशये दोषं श्रेयस्तच्चानृतं भवेत् ॥

akṣayādyo vadhaṃ rājankuryādevāvicārayan | abudhvā'nuśaye doṣaṃ śreyastaccānṛtaṃ bhavet

If a man, O king, out of unyielding adherence, would bring about a killing without reflection, not seeing the fault that follows as regret, then falsehood would be better in that case.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: the couplet is the CE star passage 12.110.15b*0255_01-02 (akṣayebhyo vadhaṃ rājan kuryād evāvicārayan / abuddhānuśaye doṣaṃ śreyas tatrānṛtaṃ bhavet); Wikisource अक्षयाद्यो, अबुध्वाऽनुशये and श्रेयस्तच्चानृतं are kept as variants. The alignment found no match.

Verse 21 (12.109.21)

न स्तेनैः सह संबन्धान्मुच्यते शपथादपि । श्रेयस्तत्रानृतं वक्तुं सत्यादिति हि धारणा ॥

na stenaiḥ saha saṃbandhānmucyate śapathādapi | śreyastatrānṛtaṃ vaktuṃ satyāditi hi dhāraṇā

One is not freed from association with thieves even by an oath; in such a case it is better to speak falsehood than truth: such is the settled view.

Note on the text: Corrected स्तेनः → स्तेनैः (misprint in Wikisource; सह takes the instrumental and the critical edition star passage reads stenaiḥ). Removed the closing quote mark and stray daṇḍa that end the quotation begun at verse 19. Not in the critical edition's constituted text: the couplet is the CE star passage 12.110.15b*0255_03-04 (na stenaiḥ saha saṃbandhān mucyate śapathād api / śreyas tatrānṛtaṃ vaktuṃ satyād iti hi dhāraṇā). The alignment found no match.

Verse 22 (12.109.22)

यः पापैः सह संबन्धान्मुच्यते शपथादपि । न च तेभ्यो धनं दद्याच्छक्ये सति कथंचन । पापेभ्यो हि धनं दत्तं दातारमपि पीडयेत् ॥

yaḥ pāpaiḥ saha saṃbandhānmucyate śapathādapi | na ca tebhyo dhanaṃ dadyācchakye sati kathaṃcana | pāpebhyo hi dhanaṃ dattaṃ dātāramapi pīḍayet

One who is freed from association with wrongdoers even by an oath should never, when he can help it, give them wealth; for wealth given to the wicked afflicts the giver as well.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match. Three-line verse, as on the page (labelled 12-109-22a/b/c) = CE 12.110.15c, 12.110.16a, 12.110.16c.

Verse 23 (12.109.23)

स्वशरीरोपरोधेन धनमादातुमिच्छतः । सत्यसंप्रतिपत्त्यर्थं यद्ब्रूयुः साक्षिणः क्वचित् । अनुक्त्वा तत्र तद्वाच्यं सर्वे तेऽनृतवादिनः ॥

svaśarīroparodhena dhanamādātumicchataḥ | satyasaṃpratipattyarthaṃ yadbrūyuḥ sākṣiṇaḥ kvacit | anuktvā tatra tadvācyaṃ sarve te'nṛtavādinaḥ

When witnesses, for the sake of establishing the truth, say something about a man who wants to take wealth at the cost of harm to his own body, but leave unsaid what ought to be said there, all of them are speakers of falsehood.

Verse 24 (12.109.24)

प्राणात्यये विवाहे च वक्तव्यमनृतं भवेत् । अर्थस्य रक्षणार्थाय परेषां धर्मकारणात् ॥

prāṇātyaye vivāhe ca vaktavyamanṛtaṃ bhavet | arthasya rakṣaṇārthāya pareṣāṃ dharmakāraṇāt

When life is at stake, and in matters of marriage, falsehood may be spoken; also to protect wealth, and for the sake of the dharma of others.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match. Lines = CE 12.110.18a and 12.110.18c.

Verse 25 (12.109.25)

परेषां सिद्धिमाकाङ्क्षन्न च स्याद्धर्मभिक्षुकः । प्रतिश्रुत्य न दातव्यं श्वः कार्यस्तु बलात्कृतः ॥

pareṣāṃ siddhimākāṅkṣanna ca syāddharmabhikṣukaḥ | pratiśrutya na dātavyaṃ śvaḥ kāryastu balātkṛtaḥ

Wishing others success, he should not become a mere beggar of dharma. Though he has promised, it need not be given; what is done under compulsion can wait for tomorrow.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match. Line 1 = CE 12.110.18e (pareṣāṃ dharmam ākāṅkṣan nīcaḥ syād dharmabhikṣukaḥ; Wikisource परेषां सिद्धिमाकाङ्क्षन्न च स्याद्धर्मभिक्षुकः is kept as a variant); line 2 = CE 12.110.19a (pratiśrutya tu dātavyaṃ śvaḥkāryas tu balātkṛtaḥ; Wikisource न दातव्यं against tu dātavyaṃ is kept as a variant).

Verse 26 (12.109.26)

यः कश्चिद्धर्मसमयात्प्रच्युतो धर्मजीवनः । दण्डेनैव स हन्तव्यस्तं पन्थानं समाश्रितः ॥

yaḥ kaściddharmasamayātpracyuto dharmajīvanaḥ | daṇḍenaiva sa hantavyastaṃ panthānaṃ samāśritaḥ

Whoever has fallen away from the code of dharma yet lives by dharma is to be struck down by punishment alone, since he has taken to that road.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 12.110.19c; line 2 is the CE star line 12.110.19d*0256_01 (dambhenaiva sa hantavyas taṃ panthānaṃ samāśritaḥ; Wikisource दण्डेनैव for dambhenaiva is kept as a variant). The alignment found no match.

Verse 27 (12.109.27)

च्युतः सदैव धर्मेभ्यो धनवान्धर्ममाश्रितः । कथं स्वधर्ममुत्सृज्य तमिच्छेदुपजीवितुम् ॥

cyutaḥ sadaiva dharmebhyo dhanavāndharmamāśritaḥ | kathaṃ svadharmamutsṛjya tamicchedupajīvitum

Though always fallen from the dharmas, a rich man who has taken shelter in dharma: how, having abandoned his own dharma, can he wish to live by it?

Note on the text: Line 1 is the CE star line 12.110.19d*0256_02 (cyutaḥ sadaiva dharmebhyo 'mānavaṃ dharmam āsthitaḥ; Wikisource धनवान्धर्ममाश्रितः is kept as a variant); line 2 = CE 12.110.20a (śaṭhaḥ svadharmam utsṛjya tam icched upajīvitum; Wikisource कथं for śaṭhaḥ is kept as a variant). The alignment found no match.

Verse 28 (12.109.28)

सर्वोपायैर्नियन्तव्यः पापो निकृतिजीवनः । धनमित्येव पापानां सर्वेषामिह निश्चयः ॥

sarvopāyairniyantavyaḥ pāpo nikṛtijīvanaḥ | dhanamityeva pāpānāṃ sarveṣāmiha niścayaḥ

A sinner who lives by fraud must be restrained by every means. For all sinners here, wealth alone is the settled aim.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match. Lines = CE 12.110.20c and 12.110.21a.

Verse 29 (12.109.29)

अविवाह्या ह्यसंभोज्या निकृत्या निरयं गताः । च्युता देवमनुष्येभ्यो यथा प्रेतास्तथैव ते । निर्यज्ञास्तपसा हीना मा स्म तैः सह संगमः ॥

avivāhyā hyasaṃbhojyā nikṛtyā nirayaṃ gatāḥ | cyutā devamanuṣyebhyo yathā pretāstathaiva te | niryajñāstapasā hīnā mā sma taiḥ saha saṃgamaḥ

Those who have gone to hell through fraud are not to be given in marriage or eaten with; fallen away from gods and men, they are just like the dead. Without sacrifice, bereft of austerity: let there be no association with them.

Note on the text: Removed the square brackets Wikisource prints around line 3 and the stray double daṇḍa inside them. Lines 1-2 = CE 12.110.21c and 12.110.22a (CE: ye 'viṣahyā hy asaṃbhojyā …; Wikisource अविवाह्या is kept as a variant); line 3 is the CE star line 12.110.22b*0257_01 (niryajñās tapasā hīnā mā sma taiḥ saha saṃgamaḥ). The alignment found no match.

Verse 30 (12.109.30)

धनादानाद्दुःखतरं जीविता धिक्प्रयोजनम् । इदं ते रोचतां धर्म इति वाच्यं प्रयत्नतः ॥

dhanādānādduḥkhataraṃ jīvitā dhikprayojanam | idaṃ te rocatāṃ dharma iti vācyaṃ prayatnataḥ

It is more painful than the seizing of wealth; shame upon such a purpose in living! "Let this be the dharma that pleases you": this is what is to be said, with care.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match. Lines = CE 12.110.22c (dhanādānād duḥkhataraṃ jīvitād viprayojanam; Wikisource जीविता धिक्प्रयोजनम् is kept as printed) and 12.110.23a (ayaṃ vo rocatāṃ dharma iti vācyaḥ prayatnataḥ).

Verse 31 (12.109.31)

न कश्चिदस्ति पापानां धर्म इत्येष निश्चयः । तथाविधं च यो हन्यान्न स पापेन लिप्यते ॥

na kaścidasti pāpānāṃ dharma ityeṣa niścayaḥ | tathāvidhaṃ ca yo hanyānna sa pāpena lipyate

There is no dharma for sinners: this is settled. And whoever kills such a one is not stained by sin.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match. Lines = CE 12.110.23c and 12.110.24a.

Verse 32 (12.109.32)

स्वकर्मणा हतं हन्ति हत एव स हन्यते । तेषु यः समयं कश्चित्कुर्वीत हतबुद्धिषु ॥

svakarmaṇā hataṃ hanti hata eva sa hanyate | teṣu yaḥ samayaṃ kaścitkurvīta hatabuddhiṣu

He kills one already slain by his own deeds; it is one already slain who is slain. As for whoever would make any compact with such men of ruined minds,

Note on the text: The alignment found no match. Lines = CE 12.110.24c and 12.110.24e.

Verse 33 (12.109.33)

यथा काकास्तथैव श्वा तथैवोपधिजीवनः । ऊर्ध्वं देहविमोक्षान्ते भवन्त्येतासु योनिषु ॥

yathā kākāstathaiva śvā tathaivopadhijīvanaḥ | ūrdhvaṃ dehavimokṣānte bhavantyetāsu yoniṣu

As crows, so dogs, so too those who live by deceit: when the body is cast off, they are born in these wombs.

Verse 34 (12.109.34)

यस्मिन्यथा वर्तति यो मनुष्य । स्तस्मिंस्तथा वर्तितव्यं स धर्मः । मायाचारो मायया बाधितव्यः । साध्वाचारः साधुनैवाभ्युपेयः ॥

yasminyathā vartati yo manuṣya | stasmiṃstathā vartitavyaṃ sa dharmaḥ | māyācāro māyayā bādhitavyaḥ | sādhvācāraḥ sādhunaivābhyupeyaḥ

As a man behaves toward another, so he should be treated in return: that is dharma. The deceitful must be met with deceit; the man of good conduct must be met with goodness.