Truth grants happiness in this
world. All living beings survive on the power of truth. The day when truth
is fully annihilated or goes into oblivion, fire will leave its inherent
burning property, which is impossible. Truth is eternal. Truth is God and
God is truth. By sticking to truth a man becomes God; a human being
becomes super human; by the force of truth an animal sheds its present
state and becomes the almighty God; the soul changes into superb soul. All
the great men born on this day became great by the force of truth. 'The
wind blows for ever' is a universal truth. One, who adheres to truth,
crosses the ocean of universe easily. He who kicks truth is also kicked in
life and meets his doom. We can uplift ourselves by the help of truth.
Truth alone is beautiful and good in this universe. The great poet Keats
has sung:
Beauty is truth, Truth beauty
That is all ye know on earth,
And all ye need to know.
That's why truth has been exalted
in the axiom 'satyam shivam sundram' - The true, the Good and the
Beautiful. The person who despite being himself incapable of following the
moral code of conduct laid down by the Holy Lord Jinendra, advocates the
holy message of the Lord, does not contradict it and does not tell a lie
in daily dealings as well, is truthful indeed.
"Truthfulness is the basis of all
the virtues that form good character. One who is true to himself is true
to world."
To call a spade a spade is the
first requisite of truthfulness. But in the spiritual sphere due to
supremacy given to nonviolence over self and non-self, beneficial and
sweet words are called truth, even if there is a bit of falsehood in them.
Indeed, a statement, which does well to living beings is truth. On the
contrary, a statement howsoever true it may be, but if it causes harm to
somebody is untruth. In short, spreading false doctrines, revealing the
secrets and deformities of others is falsehood. Likewise back biting,
making false documents and breach of trust are all forms of falsehood. A
man should abstain from such false truths.
Jain Acharyas have divided
truth into two categories on the basis of 'Anuvartas' (partial vows
or small vows), 'Mahavaratas' (Absolute vows or great vows). One
who does not speak hurtful, harsh and pinching words; who does not reveal
the secrets of others but speaks benevolent and affectionate words; who
uses pleasing and compassionate words for all living creatures; who speaks
celestial words for spiritual uplift, observes 'Satyanuvarta'
(partial vow of truth).
Not to speak false words being
instigated by attachment, malice, greed and discord; and to avoid the use
of truthful words causing anguish to others is 'Satya Mahavarta'
i.e., great vow of truth. Not to utter at any time treacherous or
agonizing words inspired with humor, fear, anger or greed; to avoid the
use of words that cause mental injury to others in thought, speech, and
action is also the great vow of truth - 'Satya Mahavarta'.
Satyavachi prtishtata sarva
gunsampda. Anritbhashinram bandhvopi avmanyate, mitrani ch prityjanti,
jihvachhedansarvsahrnraadivysnbhagpi bhavti
The treasure of all virtues lies
inherent in a truth speaking person. A liar is condemned even by his own
kith and kin. No body likes to befriend him. He has to undergo severe
punishments like cutting of the tongue and deprivation of all his wealth
and property.
A Brahman named Shivabhuti was
reputed by the title Satyaghosh. He used to say that he would never tell a
lie. If he ever told a lie, he would cut his tongue with a dagger. Being
pleased and fully convinced with his honesty one day a Seth left
his four precious diamonds in his custody and set out on his business
errand. He had earned a huge amount of money abroad. After twelve years he
was on his way back home. Unfortunately his ship sank in the sea and all
his wealth was lost. The Seth came to Satyaghosh and demanded of
him to return his four diamonds. At this the Brahman, known as Satyaghosh,
turned the Seth out of his house declaring him to be a mad person.
Now the Seth knocked the door of the king for justice. But the king
paid no heed to his petition. However, the queen traced out the theft of
Satyaghosh through her own spies. She recovered the diamonds from his
house and placed them in front of Seth. The Seth picked up
only his own diamonds out of them. Thus the king was convinced beyond
doubt about the deceit of Satyaghosh.
The king sentenced Satyaghosh to
undergo any one of the three punishments i.e., either he should eat three
plates full of cow dung; or suffer thirty two blows of his wrestlers; or
forfeit all his possessions. The sinful Satyaghosh was almost dead with
humiliation. At first he preferred to eat cow dung but could not eat the
whole of it. Then the king ordered a wrestler to give him hand blows. But
just one stroke of the wrestler left him almost half-dead. Ultimately the
helpless Satyaghosh had to surrender all his wealth to the king. In this
way the wretched fellow had to suffer all the three punishments one after
the other. This deep shock resulted in his death and thereafter he was
reborn as a snake in the king's treasure house.
The persons who are not beset with
crookedness, falsehood and deceit, alone are entitled to attain an
unblemished soul.
Taisha maso birjo Brahamloko na
yaishu jihmnritam na maya chaiti
Followers of all religions have
applauded the virtue of truthfulness whole heartily. In 'Manu Smriti'
the significance of truth has been stated as below:
Ekmaivadvitiam tu
prbruvnachbudhatai
Satyam savargasya sopanam
paravarsya nauriv
I.e., A truth speaking person is
regarded as unique. Like a boat that peddles in the ocean and takes us
ashore, truth is the ladder that leads to heaven.
The following couplet 207/67 of the
Maha Vana Parva states truth thus:
Vedasyoupanishat satyam
satasyopnisad dama
Damasyopnishat tyaga
shishtacharaishu nityasha
The essence of the Vedas is truth;
the essence of truth is self-restraint is abstinence is always present in
the conduct of cultured persons. Even if we weigh thousands of horse
sacrifices (Ashwamedha Yaga) on one scale, and truth on the
other scale of a physical balance, we shall discover that truth is heavier
i.e., superior to thousands of horse sacrifice ceremonies. This fact has
been stated in the 'Adi Parva' of the 'Mahabharat'
Ashwmedhsahastram ch satyam ch
tulya dhritam
Ashwmedhasahastadhi satyamev
vishishtai
- Maha. Adiparv 75/10
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