The virtue of truthfulness

Pamban Swamigal,   a devotee of Lord  Muruga,was a great Saint. He was a married man  leading the life of a householder.   Though a householder he practised deep sadhana every day, much to the consternation of his family. His family feared that he would, one day, walk out of the family as a result of his devotion to the Lord.
One day, he  sat on the terrace of his house meditating on Lord Muruga. Suddenly he felt a  deep urge to go to Palani .  At once he walked down and  informed his family that he was  leaving for Palani. Fear gripped his wife who felt that he was walking out of the family and would never return. But she  felt hesitant to  question him on this line. So, she requested a friend of Pamban Swamigal to advice him against going to Palani. When  the friend requested the Swamigal not to go, Pamban Swamigal told him, “Lord Muruga has asked me to come to Palani.” He thought that hearing this his family would not stop him from visiting Palani.

Pamban Swamigal went back to the terrace. No sooner had he sat down than he heard a loud, thundering voice.  It was the voice of  Lord Muruga. The Divine voice said, “Did I ask you to come to Palani?”
The Swamigal was  stunned and he trembled in fear. He said “No, Lord!”
The Divine voice of Lord Muruga said at once, “Until I tell you, you should  not come to Palani.”

Lord Muruga never called Pamban Swamigal to Palani and the Swamigal never visited the holy town all his life.  In fact, he has sung several verses begging the Lord to call him to Palani.

God does not tolerate untruth even if it is for a noble reason that involves Him.

Ten Commandments of Paramacharya

1. One of our duties as human beings is to avail ourselves of every opportunity to do good to others. The poor can serve others by their loyal work to the country and the rich by their wealth to help the poor. Those who are influential can use their influence to better the condition of the lowly. That way we can keep alive in our hearts a sense of social service.
2. Man by himself cannot create even a blade of grass. We will be guilty of gross ingratitude if we do not offer first to God what we eat or wear – only the best and choicest should be offered to Him.
3. Life without love is a waste. Everyone should cultivate “Prema” or love towards all human beings, bird and beast.
4. Wealth amassed by a person whose heart is closed to charity, is generally dissipated by the inheritors: but the family of philanthropists will always be blessed with happiness.
5. A person who has done a meritorious deed will lose the resulting merit if he listens to the praise of others or himself boasts of his deeds.
6. It will do no good to grieve over what has happened. If we learn to discriminate between good and evil, that will guard us from falling into the evil again.
7. We should utilize to good purpose, the days of our life-time. We should engage ourselves in acts, which will contribute to the welfare of others rather than to our selfish desires.
8. We should perform duties that have been prescribed for our daily life and also be filled with devotion to God.
9. One attains one’s goal by performance of one’s duties.
10. Jnana is the only solvent of our troubles and sufferings.