Satya - To seek and speak the truth

We are on Satya - a Yama which leads to three broad categories of interpretation. We have spoken about the first category, where Satya is to speak the truth unalloyed by any other consideration, in the previous post. This appears too be 'straightjacketed' and also impractical. Satya has to follow the lead of Ahimsa [not hurt anyone], but this approach will lead to the opposite on many occasions. So the proponents of Ahimsa reject the idea of speaking out exactly what is on one's mind and approach Satya in a much more practical way.

In this context there are two words in Sanskrit - Rtam and Satyam. Rtam is absolute truth and Satyam is the spoken truth. The spoken word Satyam is very unique. When one speaks, the words uttered become the property of the listener. The speaker can never retrieve them. The spoken word is a strong weapon which can inflict pain and injure others without bloodshed or obvious violence and can leave a permanent scar. It is called 'vāk vajram' . Thirukkural, a Tamil classic comprising couplets dealing with various facets of life, says that a wound caused by fire may heal without leaving a trace but the scar created by wrong speech will cause permanent damage.

The life story of Sage Patanjali illustrates this concept. The story goes that people prayed to Lord Vishnu, pleading with Him to save them from misery. The Lord took pity on them and sent down Adisesa, the benign snake who serves as His bed, as His emissary to help people out of this misery. Adisesa descended as Sage Patanjali and set about finding out the causes for man's unhappiness. He narrowed the reasons down to three important factors. These were ill-health, disturbed mind and/or mis-communication. This is illustrated in the prayer to Sage Patanjali which starts with "Yogena Cittasya".

A wrong word spoken, an inappropriate tone, speech under wrong circumstances can damage and destroy a relationship built over many years. Hence the idea of speaking truth as it is, is rejected and moderation should certainly be practiced.

How do we define this Satya? Quoting a well known dharmasāstra - Manusmriti the definition is as follows

   1.  Satyam bruyāt priyam bruyāt

   2.  Na bruyāt satyam apriyam

   3.  Priyam cāpi nanrtam bruyāt

Speak the truth that will create goodwill [1].

Do not speak the truth which will create ill-will [2].

Does this imply that we speak untruth? No, says the third line.

For the sake of goodwill do not speak an untruth [3].

So our speech should fall within these three boundaries.

Let us continue our discussions.