Honesty or truthfulness is a moral quality that denotes the absence of negative moral traits like lying, cheating, and theft as well as positive and virtue-based characteristics like integrity, truthfulness, and straightforwardness of conduct.
Being trustworthy, obedient, impartial, and sincere are also characteristics of honesty. Accountability, reliability, dependability, or conscientiousness are all terms used to describe being honest about one’s intentions for future behavior, allegiances, or commitments.
Honesty extends into the realm of candour or frankness when someone goes out of their way to speak truths that may not be welcomed. The importance of honesty in Brahmanas was emphasized by Lord Shri Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita.
Let’s review those shlokas.
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 18, Verse 42
शमो दमस्तप: शौचं क्षान्तिरार्जवमेव च |
ज्ञानं विज्ञानमास्तिक्यं ब्रह्मकर्म स्वभावजम्
śhamo damas tapaḥ śhauchaṁ kṣhāntir ārjavam eva cha
jñānaṁ vijñānam āstikyaṁ brahma-karma svabhāva-jam
Translation
The intrinsic qualities of work for Brahmins are calmness, austerity, restraint, purity, patience, honesty, knowledge, wisdom, and belief in an afterlife.
The Brahmins were those with primarily Sattvic natures. Their main responsibilities were to practice austerity, mental purity, devotion, and leadership by example. They were therefore expected to have compassion, humility, and spiritual awareness. They had to perform Vedic rites for both themselves and the other classes. They had a predisposition to enjoy learning.
Therefore, they were also suited for the profession of teaching, which involves acquiring knowledge and imparting it to others. Despite not participating in the administration of the government, they directed the executives. And because they had a strong understanding of the scriptures, people highly valued what they had to say about social and political issues.
According to this verse, among other qualities, honesty is significant and natural in a brahmana, and the brahmana works together with it.
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 17, Verse 15
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् |
स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते
anudvega-karaṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priya-hitaṁ cha yat
svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ chaiva vāṅ-mayaṁ tapa uchyate
Translation
The recitation of the Vedic scriptures on a regular basis and refraining from using hurtful or offensive language are both considered to be examples of austere speech.
Speaking with austerity means using words that are true, non-offensive, enjoyable, and helpful to the listener. The austerities of speech also include the practice of chanting Vedic mantras.
We can infer from this verse that being truthful in our speech is equally important to refraining from saying things that are unnecessary. To put it another way, it means that we have to be sincere. Honesty includes being truthful in our thoughts, attitudes, and actions in addition to being truthful in our speech.
Arjuna was willing, to be honest with Sri Krishna about his weakness. The greatest warrior weakened and sat down, seeking assistance. Similar to this, we must be honest with ourselves, admit our shortcomings to the Lord, seek his guidance, and maintain the strength to follow his instructions and proceed along the path of evolution.