All the great men who have existed
on this earth to this day achieved greatness only due to harnessing truth
to the core of their heart. Those who adhere to truth make their
self-uplift. On the contrary, those who are addicted to falsehood meet a
miserable lot and suffer downfall. These note worthy words deserve careful
attention:
"The path of truth will lead you to
your goal, if you only go straight forward, without moving this side or
that."
There lived a gentle natured and
profound scholar Upadhaya (a teacher) named Ksheerkadamb in
Swastikawati City. Many students, chief amongst whom were his own son
Parvata, the Stha's son Narad and the royal Prince Vasu, received
education from him. All three had great mutual love and affection for one
another. One day the simple living, learned teacher Ksheerkadamb while
engaged in teaching and discourse with his three main disciples sat on a
crystal clear marble slab inside a cave of Swarangiri hill. At that time
he was explaining to his disciples the intricate religious axioms defining
them in a very lucid style. Just then two Gods named Amitmati and his
disciple Anantmati accomplished in celestial virtues descended from the
sky and to him. Seeing Ksheerkadamb busy in religious discourse with his
pupils in a calm and serene mood, the God Anantmati spoke, "Hurrah! All
these are decidedly noble souls and are likely to attain salvation in the
near future." Hearing this Amitmati said, "O disciple! Your statement is
correct to some extent; but out of them two will go to hell and two will
enter heaven." This conversation between the two Gods made Ksheerkadamb,
who enlightened the whole universe with the light of scriptures shudder at
heart with fear. He at once dispatched his disciples home, and in no time
himself he reached the God Amitmati. He paid homage at his feet with full
reverence and inquired, "O celestial being! Who out of us will go to hell
and who will enter heaven?"
Amitmati replied, "O Ksheerkadamb!
The untruthful Prince Vasu who is maddened with the pride of royal
treasures and your son Parvata who misinterprets the Holy Scriptures will
go to hell. The Seth's son Narad who honestly observes the vows of
a householder and possesses the jewel of Right Belief, and you yourself
shall enter heaven."
On hearing these words from the
mouth of the divine God, Ksheerkadamb out of aversion for the world and
his own body developed the feeling of renunciation. So he got himself
initiated into Jain monkshood in the presence of his teacher. He uprooted
with his own hands his lustrous beautiful dark hair. In the end after a
noble death - the Samadhi Maran of a saint - he entered his heavenly abode
i.e., Paradise.
On the other hand, Parvata
succeeded his teacher father. He became a teacher and started teaching the
students. One day Narad taking a present of garments paid a visit to his
teacher's widowed wife - the mother like Chitravali and met his classmate
Parvata as well. After making proper inquiries from his teacher's wife
about her well-being and giving her the present, he reached the school run
by Parvata. By chance at that time Parvata made a blunder. He explained to
his students that the word 'Ajairyasthavayam' means to 'perform
Yajna by sacrificing a he-goat.' Narad objected to it and said, "O
learned Parvata! Do not give this wrong explanation. 'Aja' means
the paddy, which has lost the power of germination. Hence the phrase 'Ajairyasthavayam'
means that a Yajna should be performed for health, peace and
prosperity by offering three-year-old paddy. My friend! Only thus
had our highly learned proficient teacher explained this word to us. It
does not befit you to give a wrong interpretation of the right word after
inheriting your father's high seat of a teacher. It seems your mind has
gone astray and your wisdom has become extinct." On hearing his friend's
words full of wisdom, Parvata said, "O Narad! The explanation given by me
is fully true and correct. If you prove it untrue and inappropriate, let
me be punished by chopping off my tongue."
Narad said, "But who will decide
our controversy?"
At this Parvarta said, "The justice
loving king Vasu will decide our controversy and we shall come to know his
decision about the truth or untruth of your explanation by attending his
court tomorrow."
When Chitrawali, the widow of
Ksheerkadamb and mother of Parvata heard this, she sent for Parvata and
counseling him said, "My son! To give such wrong explanation is a cause of
downfall and leads to hell. Therefore, give up your obstinacy in sticking
to your wrong interpretation, otherwise you will have to go to hell." But
Parvata declined to follow the advice of his mother. He was adamant on his
own version. It has been rightly said: 'vinash kalai viprit budhi' 'A man
loses his wisdom in adversity'.
Parvata's
mother knew well that her own son was wrong and talking rot, and to favor
him would signify moral degradation. Even then infatuated with affection
for her son, she went to king Vasu to plead for him. She spoke, "O, king!
Once you had promised to grant me a boon. Today I have come to you to ask
for the boon."
The just and truthful king Vasu
said, "Mother! Demand whatever boon you like. Your boon shall be granted
at all costs. I am ready to offer you every thing that I possess." At this
the lady said, "Tomorrow Parvata and Narad will come in your court to seek
your decision over a controversy. Although Parvata's view point is weak,
it supports sin and is a gateway to moral downfall, yet you will have to
defend my son Parvata and give your decision in his favor."
Hearing this king Vasu trembled at
heart. He was in a great fix. He pondered in his mind, "What should I do
now? If I do not keep my word, I will have to suffer great disgrace; and
if in order to fulfill my promise I favor Parvata, my fall into the pit of
hell is inevitable. If there is a deep well on one side, there is a deep
ditch on the other. I fail to decide what to do in such a critical
situation." But he opted for hell; so at last he bid farewell to his
teacher's wife with a promise to defend her son Parvarta.
The next day Narad and Parvarta
appeared in the royal court. Each one of them presented his case before
the king giving forceful arguments. They both waited for the king's
judgement with a heavy heart. Parvata was somewhat doubtful at heart, but
Narad was fully confident that the just king Vasu would certainly deliver
his verdict in his favor. But the promise-bound king Vasu delivered his
judgement in favor of Parvata. As soon as he declared his judgement in
favor of untruth, his throne sank into the earth and there was an uproar
all around. Narad burst out, "O wicked king! Why did you prefer to go to
hell by favoring untruth? Take side of the truth." But the helpless king
remained adamant on his decision and ultimately went to hell after death.
By the above example it becomes
obvious that "Truth always conquers in the long run" 'satya maiv jeytai'.
Therefore, a living being aspiring for his own spiritual welfare should
never favor falsehood, otherwise he has to meet a miserable plight.
In his last sermon before his ideal
death i.e. Samadhi Maran His Holiness Shri Shanti Sagar Maharaj, a
prince among ascetics laid stress upon the need of truth for a believer in
non-violence. By truth he meant the adoption of right perspective and
correct apprehension of spiritual values.
The great poet Reidhu has defined
the supreme virtue of truth as under:
De dhamhr karanru dos nribarnru
ih bhavi skhrhru
Sachyu ji vynrulu bhavnri atalu
oljyi visasadhru
Sachu ji savam thamaham phanru,
sachu ji nhiyligreu vihanru
Sachenr ji sohi namruv jammu,
sachainr pavtau punr kam
Sachnr sal gnr ganr mahanti,
sachainr tias saiva vahanti
Par baha yaru bhasahuma bhabu,
sachu ji tam chhandhu vigeh gachu
Sachu ji Parmapau athi so bhavun
bhavtam dalanr iku
Rundhije munrinra vyanr guti,
jam khanri fitaii sansar ati
sachu ji dham Phainr
kaivalnranru lahair janru
Tam palhu bhi bhav bhanru ma
aliyu deh venru
1. The virtue of truth is the
originator of the virtue of compassion, it banishes all faults and is
bestower of bliss in this world and the divine world. A truthful speech is
unique in the universe, i.e., nothing in the world can match it. We should
speak truth with confidence.
2. The virtue of truth is the main
among all virtues. Truth is the most sacred injunction on the earth'
surface. Truth is like a bridge to take us across the ocean of the world.
Truth is the guiding force to bring mental happiness to all creatures.
3. Human life is glorified by
truth. Truth alone diverts men from evil to do holy deeds. All virtues
together achieve nobility and grandeur through truth alone, and the Gods
fulfill the vow of service due to truth only.
4. The small vows and big vows are
attained through truth, and truth puts an end to all human miseries. We
should always speak generous and affectionate words. We should never utter
such words as hurt the feelings of others.
5. O noble soul! Never speak a
word, which creates obstacles for others; even if it may be true, give it
up with pride. Truth is the only God. Truth is like the radiant sun to
vanquish the darkness of the world. Always worship it.
6. The nude monks observe Vachan
Gupti i.e., follow regulations of speech. They put an end to the worldly
agony and sorrows in the twinkling of an eye.
7. A man automatically attains
enlightenment as a result of the virtue of truth. O noble soul! Practice
truth and do not speak unpleasant words in the world.
Hence, O Mortal Man! Be truthful;
and be truthful. O man! Know that truth is the fundamental principle. The
wise man that always abides by the commandment of truth goes beyond death;
for truth is the food of soul and falsehood cannot have a long lease of
life. Know thou the truth. He, who abides by the precept of truth, attains
the deathless state.
A truthful person is honored every
where. Therefore, we must:
Honor to those whose words are
deeds
Thus help us in our daily needs;
And by their overflow
Raise us from what is low.
The
principal materials for character building are - truth and honesty, energy
and devotion, patience and perseverance, but the steady foundation upon
which character can stand is firm faith in the infinite mercy and wisdom
of God; without this character, however high it may be, trembles down in a
moment.
