O king, it is not true that he is fallen who does not speak out the truth when asked (for there are occasions when to speak falsehood is an act of piety.) The falsehood is sinful when one (harmful) object is to be accomplished.
पृष्टं तु साक्ष्ये प्रवदन्तमन्यथा वदन्ति मिथ्या पतितं नरेन्द्र। एकार्थतायां तु समाहितायां मिथ्या वदन्तं त्वनृतं हिनस्ति॥