सत्यप्रतिष्ठायां क्रियाफलाश्रयत्वम्॥३६॥
satya=truth; pratiShThaayaaM=upon establishment of; kriyaa=activity, work; phala=fruit; aashrayatvam=the nature of being a support or base
Sw. Satchidananda
"To one established in truthfulness, actions and their results become subservient."
When a yogi is totally established in truth, whatever he says will come true – whether it be a curse or a blessing. Through honesty, a state of fearlessness comes. Yogi’s life becomes an open book.
If being honest we expect that someone may get hurt, then we should keep quiet, without telling the truth or a lie.
Bryant
"When one is established in truthfulness, one ensures the fruition of action."
The words of a truthful person always are infallible as they always bring fruit. If the yogi says to someone, "be virtuous" (of course, the person should be deserving), then the person will become virtuous. The power of truth can sway the mind of the listener to act according to the yogi’s words. The yogi established in truth does not exploit and is fit to become the guru of a deserving disciple. Another interpretation of the sutra is that a truthful yogi has control over actions and over the fruits they bear in future births.
Discussion
(Commentary by Kailasam Iyer)
YSP II-36 Truth, established in mind, is the substrate for all actions and consequences of the practitioner.
Truth as a substrate, not just the basis, is recommended to be integral to and guiding principle for all life’s activities of mind, word, and body. Think of Silicon as the substrate for the circuits on the wafer. The four yamas ( Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, and Aparigraha) nest into Ahimsa, very much like the Matryoshka dolls shown in the attachment. The practice of Ahimsa constitutes in it the practice of the four following yamas in the list. The list is not serial in intent; it is homogeneous in form in the sense the items interpermeate in practice.
Hariharananda’s translations of the sutra and Vyasa’s commentary have to be understood in context and by meditation. Subhash brought a lot of clarity to Vyasa’s commentary by reflecting on the fact that the first half of Vyasa’s sentence is a blessing and the second half is a wish. The Yogi’s attainment of the state of truth is indicated by his ability to guide by example. Henceforth, he can request another to be a dharma practitioner and can hope sincerely that the student may receive the reward of “heaven“ on earth.
I can not refrain from bringing in the concept of Satyagraha ( occupation by truth), the concept made wellknown by Mahatma Gandhi. His inspiration came from Bhagavadgita and “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness; they shall be satisfied” ( Matt. V-6). Inward state of truth must manifest in the desire to fight until righteousness is established outside. Think of Aung San Suu Kyi and Nelson Mandela.
Satyam is truth to oneself. We know one CAN lie to oneself. The lesson is "don’t do it".
The sutra can re interpreted from the point of view of bhakti. A true devotee, being firmly established in truthfulness dedicates his actions and their fruits to God.
If a person thinks that he is the doer and the enjoyer of the actions and their fruits, that would be due to “avidya” not untruthfulness. So, I think your example would be more in the nature of “Ishwara pranidhana”.