Truth

Courtesy: Sri.KV.Anantanarayanan

 

अव्याहतं व्याहृतात्छ्रेय आहु सत्यं वदेत् व्याहृतं तद्द्वितीयं।
प्रियम् वदेत् व्याहृतं तत्तृतीयम् धर्म्यम् वदेत् व्याहृतं तत्चतुर्थं॥१२॥
स्रीमहाभारते उद्योगपर्वणि प्रजागरण पर्वणि विदुरनीतिवाक्ये अध्यायः ३६
avyāhataṁ vyāhṛtātchreya āhu satyaṁ vadet vyāhṛtaṁ taddvitīyaṁ|
priyam vadet vyāhṛtaṁ tattṛtīyam dharmyam vadet vyāhṛtaṁ tatcaturthaṁ||12||
srīmahābhārate udyogaparvaṇi prajāgaraṇa parvaṇi viduranītivākye adhyāyaḥ 36


To tell the truth or keep quiet? This dilemma haunted all sensible persons
through the ages. This is dealt with by Vidura in this treasure of an
advice.
Silence is the best things, says Vidura, and if you have no chance other
than speaking our always tell the truth. And even while telling the truth,
it is better to take care that the words spoken are agreeable to others.
And we should desist from speaking even agreeable words if they do not
conform to approved social and moral norms.
Bharavi explained it in another way.. hitham manohari cha durlabham
vachaH....words which are sweet to the ears and at the same time
contributing to our own welfare are really rare.. In ramayanam Mareecha
tells Ravana his nephew....O king the world abounds in people who speak
sweet words to you always. But it is rare to find a speaker or listener of
words which are inconvenient but meant for the ultimate benefit of the
listener. (Sulabhaah purushaa raajan santhatam priyavaadinaH apriyasya cha
pathyasya vakthaa shrotaa cha durlabhaaH)..

But the basic rules should be in place.. Just to please the listener, one
should not speak untrue words. Of course even unpalatable facts can be
presented with some sugarcoat. It is good management. And sometimes if
truth is spoken all of a sudden, it can either kill the speaker or the
listener. There are so many possibilities. The words may be received with
violence, the words can cause physical shock or mental insanity.
In these days of right to information and exalted freedom of media all
concerned have to understand that many things, even when they are stark
truths should not be made known in public.. if a truth can only do harm to
the interests of all, if it will ruin the reasonably cordial relationship
among people, nations, and other groups and if there is nothing to happen as
value addition for the benefit of anyone other than scandalmongers, why
should such truths be dished out?
The age old wisdom speaks...SILENCE IS GOLDEN

--
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.

  Every moment, thank God