KFTD - 292: When it is OK to lie

292 அறத்துப்பால்- துறவறவியல்- வாய்மை

பொய்ம்மையும் வாய்மை யிடத்த புரைதீர்ந்த

நன்மை பயக்கு மெனின்.

Poimaiyum vaimai yidaththa puraitheerntha

Nanmai payakku menin

Audio Link:  https://sites.google.com/site/kftdaudios/home/arathu/292.mp3

ஒரு பொய்யால் குற்றமற்ற, தெளிவான நன்மை உண்டாகுமானால் அது பொய்யே அல்ல.  நிச்சயம் அது உண்மையே.

The chapter’s name, Vaimai means honesty. 

To Valluvar, in Honesty intent matters more than the mere fact of saying the truth or a lie.  He is more interested in the Truth.

The chapter that starts with Valluvar saying that something can be considered honest only if there is no evil arising from it.  Next the bard goes on to state in this kural when it is acceptable to speak falsehood.  He claims that if by uttering a lie one is able to effect a clear, distinct and unmarred Good, then that lie can be considered the same as a Truth.  The point to be noted is that he does not give one a license to lie provided there is a benefit.  The result has to be Good, with a capital G, not personal benefit.  And even that Good cannot have any compromises – it should be indubitably Good.

I like the practicality of this kural – he does recognize that is not always possible to tell the truth and indeed, it might not always be the most honorable thing to do.  Having recognized it, he proceeds to set the boundaries where it  may be most honest thing to do is to lie. In this, I think the Thirukkural stands unique!

6/1330