This strict rule of my mother and grandmother, never to lie, has been guiding principle so far. Many people lie at face, mostly to be clever and some in fear. Talking in reverse order and talking nothing but lies is set standard of the society to be clever. In many situation, it appears those who lie and cheat alone get progress. Sometime a negative reflection upon progress to occur. However, progress is necessary and to give up this instinct is injustice to oneself. This constant fight between honest and liars may be running from time immemorial.
This gain from lying and pain from speaking truth as it appears, what is the justification? Why should one speak truth? Every religion and pioneer of law seems to emphasis this matter. However, why? Social perspective is too lame to justify. Society is only the tool for individual man to progress and that too for all members of the society.
However, no text seems to answer why one speak truth or why wise speak the truth. Panini's Raj Yoga has set rule, among which to speak truth is basic or practice required before practice of Raj Yog. Here, too the answer is deeper but not yet a direct answer.
Yajnavalkya in Sathpath Brahaman explained it in a manner like all sages of all time have done, to make a great deal as if it is nothing. The Brahaman explain, Gods does not like lie, hence one should speak truth as Gods like truth. For a naive reader it has meaning lesser than utility theory, or social theory or even yogic theory, however it should be read in the context of what kind of a man the sage was seeking. It was the established fact that men progress with the help of Gods/Devas (all Devas are paired with their female Devis) or that which shines or who aspire men towards light of Isha. Without help of these Gods, men can't realize the ultimate. It is again sages' trick to guide naive brains by explaining it in sufficient simplicity without harming the truth, do this and this and this, in Vedas without explanation and in Bramhan with rituals and myths and in Puranas Myths only. To attain that life where Gods and Men co-exist, Truth is the beginning, middle and the end. Evil forces in the life, mainly diseases and thoughts are to be won with the help of illuminating Gods(always pair). In this larger context alone Truth and logic to speak truth get established. It also sufficiently explain what life should look like. Neither being hungry nor giving up life one gets life's full result.
वेदमनूच्य आचार्योऽन्तेवासिनं अनुशास्ति |
सत्यं वद | धर्मं चर | स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः |
"The teacher instructs the students who are living in his hermitage: Speak the truth. Follow righteousness. Never neglect your studies."
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