Mahabharata 4:Five Falsehoods That Be Fine Poem by Aniruddha Pathak

A promise rendered under stress,
In mirth— or words vouched in duress;
Words whispered to women, O King;
Whilst exchanging marital ring;
Promise proffered on facing death;
Or risking loss of all the wealth;
Call them fair falsehoods— all of five,
Sweetly sinless, are rather naïve!
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Here is the transliteration of the original verse:

na narma-yuktam vachanam hinasti
na strīśhu rājan na vivāha-kāle |
prāņa-atyaye sarva-dhana-apahāre
pancha anŗtāni āhuh apātakāni || ādi.82-16 ||

Let us see the context. Sarmishtha came along as maid with Devayani (now married to king Yayati)and was given a separate place for her and her entourage. Once, when she was in her fertile cycle, she felt the need of a companion. And she happened to see the king passing by, and offered herself as a true princess would. In those days women seemed to be more liberate. Any way, the king demurred because he had given a word to the sage Shukracharya (Devayni's father)that he would not stray. It was then that she quoted this verse: five untruths that attract no sin. Note: narma-yuktam = humour-tinged (from narman = sport, amusement, amorous pastime, jest, humour, wit): vivāha-kāle = at the time of betrothal (some texts say: vihāra-kāle= during recreation, promenede): prāņa-atyaye = when life is threatened; anŗtāni = untruths; apātakāni = not sinful.

The philosophy of life, be it the code of conduct or the righteous way. It differs and changes with time. The wise of the society tend to keep an escape window open. Mahabharata happened in dwāpar yuga, the fifty-fifty period. Untruth and dishonesty had entered life here. During the treatā yuga (three-parts of truth, only one part of the shadowy evil)of Ramayana perhaps this verse might not have been acceptable. In the Dark Age (kali yuga)today we have made this list very long.