Tell the Truth

Once a sage lived in the forest. He was known for strict adherence to his policy of always telling the truth.

One day the sage was teaching their disciples about the importance of truth. He said that we should always tell the truth, no matter how difficult the situation.

Suddenly a deer came running towards the sage. The deer bent down and asked for help and then quickly hid in the sage's hut.

A moment later a hunter also came running with his bow and arrow. The hunter knew that the sage never lies. So the hunter asked the sage if he saw a deer.

The sage knew that the hunter wanted to kill the deer. At that time the sage said contrary to his nature, "I was busy teaching my disciples. I did not see any deer here."

The hunter went back into the forest thinking that the deer might have gone the other direction. After the hunter left, the sage went inside his hut and watered and comforted the bewildered deer.

The sage's disciples who were watching this whole event could not understand the sage's act.  So a disciple asked the sage about this and requested him to clear the confusion.

The sage said, "My dear disciples, I know that you are all confused, because I always ask you to take the path of truth, but now I have lied to the contrary. When it comes to the life of an innocent,  So you should think and decide. I did what I liked. If I had told the truth, the hunter would have killed the innocent deer. So I had to lie to save the deer life. "

At that moment the deer took the form of God in the sage's hut and blessed him. Actually God wanted to test sage's teaching. So he took the form of a deer and did everything.

The Lord praised the sage and said, "Truth is the greatest virtue. Lies should never be spoken, but when it comes to saving an innocent life, we must make a conscious decision."