(

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

: ;

IAST The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) is a transliteration scheme that allows the lossless romanisation of Brahmic family, Indic scripts as employed by Sanskrit and related Indic languages. It is based on a scheme that ...

: ) is a

word that can be translated as "truth" or "essence.“ In

Indian religions Indian religions, sometimes also termed Dharmic religions or Indic religions, are the religions that originated in the Indian subcontinent. These religions, which include Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism,Adams, C. J."Classification o ...

, it refers to a kind of

virtue A virtue () is a trait of excellence, including traits that may be morality, moral, social, or intellectual. The cultivation and refinement of virtue is held to be the "good of humanity" and thus is Value (ethics), valued as an Telos, end purpos ...

found across them. This virtue most commonly refers to being truthful in one's thoughts, speech and action. For

Yoga Yoga (UK: , US: ; 'yoga' ; ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated with its own philosophy in ancient India, aimed at controlling body and mind to attain various salvation goals, as pra ...

particularly, ''satya'' is one of five

yamas The (), and their complement, the niyamas, represent a series of "right living" or ethical rules within Yoga philosophy. The word means "reining in" or "control". They are restraints for proper conduct given in the Vedas and the Yoga Sutras ...

, the virtuous restraint from falsehood and distortion of reality in one's expressions and actions.

Etymology and meaning

In the

Vedas FIle:Atharva-Veda samhita page 471 illustration.png, upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the ''Atharvaveda''. The Vedas ( or ; ), sometimes collectively called the Veda, are a large body of relig ...

and later

sutra ''Sutra'' ()Monier Williams, ''Sanskrit English Dictionary'', Oxford University Press, Entry fo''sutra'' page 1241 in Indian literary traditions refers to an aphorism or a collection of aphorisms in the form of a manual or, more broadly, a ...

s, the meaning of the word evolves into an

ethical Ethics is the philosophical study of moral phenomena. Also called moral philosophy, it investigates normative questions about what people ought to do or which behavior is morally right. Its main branches include normative ethics, applied e ...

concept about truthfulness and an important virtue. It means being true and consistent with reality in one's thought, speech, and action. has

cognates In historical linguistics, cognates or lexical cognates are sets of words that have been inherited in direct descent from an etymological ancestor in a common parent language. Because language change can have radical effects on both the soun ...

in a number of diverse

Indo-European languages The Indo-European languages are a language family native to the northern Indian subcontinent, most of Europe, and the Iranian plateau with additional native branches found in regions such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, parts of Central Asia (e. ...

, including the word "sooth" and "sin" in English, "" ("") in

Russian Russian(s) may refer to: *Russians (), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *A citizen of Russia *Russian language, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages *''The Russians'', a b ...

, "" (truthful) in Danish, "" in Swedish, and "" in

Avestan Avestan ( ) is the liturgical language of Zoroastrianism. It belongs to the Iranian languages, Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages, Indo-European language family and was First language, originally spoken during the Avestan period, Old ...

, the

liturgical language A sacred language, liturgical language or holy language is a language that is cultivated and used primarily for religious reasons (like church service) by people who speak another, primary language in their daily lives. Some religions, or part ...

Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism ( ), also called Mazdayasnā () or Beh-dīn (), is an Iranian religions, Iranian religion centred on the Avesta and the teachings of Zoroaster, Zarathushtra Spitama, who is more commonly referred to by the Greek translation, ...

() is the root of many Sanskrit words and concepts such as ("pure, truthful") and ("truth"). The

root has several meanings or translations: # "Absolute reality" # "

Fact A fact is a truth, true data, datum about one or more aspects of a circumstance. Standard reference works are often used to Fact-checking, check facts. Science, Scientific facts are verified by repeatable careful observation or measurement by ...

" # "

Brahman In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' (; IAST: ''Brahman'') connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality of the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part XII In the ...

" (not to be confused with

Brahmin Brahmin (; ) is a ''Varna (Hinduism), varna'' (theoretical social classes) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the ''Kshatriya'' (rulers and warriors), ''Vaishya'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''Shudra'' (labourers). Th ...

) # "that which is unchangeable" # "that which has no distortion" # "that which is beyond distinctions of time, space, and person" # "that which pervades the

universe The universe is all of space and time and their contents. It comprises all of existence, any fundamental interaction, physical process and physical constant, and therefore all forms of matter and energy, and the structures they form, from s ...

in all its constancy" is a common prefix in ancient Indian literature and implies variously that which is good, true, genuine, virtuous, being, happening, real, existing, enduring, lasting, or essential; for example, means true doctrine, means one devoted to the truth. In ancient texts, fusion words based on refer to "Universal Spirit, Universal Principle, Being, Soul of the World,

". The negation of is , that is delusion, distorted, untrue, the fleeting impression that is incorrect, invalid, and false. The concepts of and are famously expressed in the

Pavamana Mantra The Pavamana Mantra (''pavamāna'' meaning "being purified, strained", historically a name of Soma), also known as ''pavamāna abhyāroha'' (''abhyāroha'', lit. "ascending", being an Upanishadic technical term for "prayer") is an ancient Indian ...

found in the (1.3.28): is one of the three characteristics of

as described in . This association between , 'truth', and , ultimate reality, is also expressed in Hindu cosmology, wherein , the highest heaven of

Hindu cosmology Hindu cosmology is the description of the universe and its states of matter, cycles within time, physical structure, and effects on living entities according to Hindu texts. Hindu cosmology is also intertwined with the idea of a creator who allo ...

, is the abode of .

Hinduism

Vedic literature

is a central theme in the

. It is equated with and considered necessary to the concept (, )—that which is properly joined, order, rule, nature, balance, harmony. results from in the Vedas, as it regulates and enables the operation of the universe and everything within it. is considered essential, and without it, the universe and reality falls apart, cannot function. In

Rigveda The ''Rigveda'' or ''Rig Veda'' (, , from wikt:ऋच्, ऋच्, "praise" and wikt:वेद, वेद, "knowledge") is an ancient Indian Miscellany, collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns (''sūktas''). It is one of the four sacred canoni ...

, opposed to and are and (falsehood). Truth and truthfulness is considered as a form of reverence for the divine, while falsehood a form of sin. includes action and speech that is factual, real, true, and reverent to in Books 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 10 of Rigveda. However, isn't merely about one's past that is in context in the Vedas, it has one's current and one's future contexts as well. states, that in Rigveda, " is the modality of acting in the world of , as the truth to be built, formed or established".

Upanishads

is widely discussed in various

Upanishads The Upanishads (; , , ) are late Vedic and post-Vedic Sanskrit texts that "document the transition from the archaic ritualism of the Veda into new religious ideas and institutions" and the emergence of the central religious concepts of Hind ...

, including the

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad The ''Brihadaranyaka Upanishad'' (, ) is one of the Mukhya Upanishads, Principal Upanishads and one of the first Upanishadic scriptures of Hinduism. A key scripture to various schools of Hinduism, the ''Brihadaranyaka Upanisad'' is tenth in the ...

where is called the means to

, as well as Brahman (Being, true self). In hymn 1.4.14 of Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, ''Satya'' (truth) is equated to

Dharma Dharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term ''dharma'' does not have a single, clear Untranslatability, translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit ''dhr-'', meaning ''to hold ...

(morality, ethics, law of righteousness), as

Taittiriya Upanishad The Taittiriya Upanishad (, ) is a Vedic era Sanskrit text, embedded as three chapters (''adhyāya'') of the Yajurveda. It is a '' mukhya'' (primary, principal) Upanishad, and likely composed about 6th century BCE. The Taittirīya Upanishad is ...

's hymn 11.11 states, "Speak the (truth), conduct yourself according to the (morality, ethics, law)". Truth is sought, praised in the hymns of Upanishads, held as one that ultimately, always prevails. The

Mundaka Upanishad The Mundaka Upanishad (, ) is an ancient Sanskrit Vedic text, embedded inside Atharva Veda. It is a Mukhya (primary) Upanishad, and is listed as number 5 in the Muktika canon of 108 Upanishads of Hinduism. It is among the most widely translat ...

, for example, states in Book 3, Chapter 1, Sandilya Upanishad of

Atharvaveda The Atharvaveda or Atharva Veda (, , from ''wikt:अथर्वन्, अथर्वन्'', "priest" and ''wikt:वेद, वेद'', "knowledge") or is the "knowledge storehouse of ''wikt:अथर्वन्, atharvans'', the proced ...

, in Chapter 1, includes ten forbearances as virtues, in its exposition of Yoga. It defines as "the speaking of the truth that conduces to the well being of creatures, through the actions of one's mind, speech, or body." Deussen states that is described in the major Upanishads with two layers of meanings—one as empirical truth about reality, another as abstract truth about universal principle, being, and the unchanging. Both of these ideas are explained in early Upanishads, composed before , by variously breaking the word or into two or three syllables. In later Upanishads, the ideas evolve and transcend into as truth (or truthfulness), and as the Being, Be-ness, real Self, the eternal.

Epics

The ''

Shanti Parva The Shanti Parva (; IAST: ''Śānti parva)'' ("Book of Peace") is the twelfth of the eighteen ''parvas'' (books) of the Indian epic ''Mahabharata''. It traditionally has three parts and 365 chapters.Ganguli, K.M. (1883–1896)Shanti Parva in ''The ...

'' of the

Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; , , ) is one of the two major Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epics of ancient India revered as Smriti texts in Hinduism, the other being the ''Ramayana, Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the events and aftermath of the Kuru ...

states, "The righteous hold that forgiveness, truth, sincerity, and compassion are the foremost (of all virtues). Truth is the essence of the Vedas." The Epic repeatedly emphasizes that is a basic virtue, because everything and everyone depends on and relies on .

Yoga Sutras

In the

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali The ''Yoga Sutras of Patañjali'' (IAST: Patañjali yoga-sūtra) is a compilation "from a variety of sources" of Sanskrit sutras (aphorisms) on the practice of yoga – 195 sutras (according to Vyasa, Vyāsa and Krishnamacharya) and 196 sut ...

, it is written, “When one is firmly established in speaking truth, the fruits of action become subservient to him." In Yoga sutra, is one of the five , or virtuous restraints, along with (restraint from violence or injury to any living being); (restraint from stealing); (celibacy or restraint from sexually cheating on one's partner); and (restraint from covetousness and craving). Patanjali considers as a restraint from falsehood in one's action (body), words (speech, writing), or feelings / thoughts (mind). In Patanjali's teachings, one may not always know the truth or the whole truth, but one knows if one is creating, sustaining, or expressing falsehood, exaggeration, distortion, fabrication, or deception. is, in Patanjali's Yoga, the virtue of restraint from such falsehood, either through silence or through stating the truth without any form of distortion.

Jainism

is one of the five vows prescribed in

Jain Agamas Jain literature () refers to the literature of the Jain religion. It is a vast and ancient literary tradition, which was initially transmitted orally. The oldest surviving material is contained in the canonical ''Jain Agamas'', which are wri ...

. was also preached by

Mahavira Mahavira (Devanagari: महावीर, ), also known as Vardhamana (Devanagari: वर्धमान, ), was the 24th ''Tirthankara'' (Supreme Preacher and Ford Maker) of Jainism. Although the dates and most historical details of his lif ...

. According to Jainism, not to lie or speak what is not commendable. The underlying cause of falsehood is passion and therefore, it is said to cause (injury). According to the Jain text ''

Sarvārthasiddhi ''Sarvārthasiddhi'' is a famous Jain text authored by Acharya (Jainism), Ācārya Pujyapada. It is the oldest extant commentary on ''Ācārya Umaswami's Tattvartha Sutra, Tattvārthasūtra'' (another famous Jain text). Traditionally though, th ...

'': "that which causes pain and suffering to the living is not commendable, whether it refers to actual facts or not". According to the Jain text '' Puruşārthasiddhyupāya'':

Buddhism

The term (Pali: ) is translated into English as "reality" or "truth." In terms of the

Four Noble Truths In Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths (; ; "The Four Arya (Buddhism), arya satya") are "the truths of the noble one (the Buddha)," a statement of how things really are (Three marks of existence, the three marks of existence) when they are seen co ...

(), the Pali can be written as , , , and . 'The Four Noble Truths' () are the briefest synthesis of the entire teaching of Buddhism, since all those manifold doctrines of the threefold

Pali canon The Pāḷi Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhism, Buddhist tradition, as preserved in the Pāli language. It is the most complete extant Early Buddhist texts, early Buddhist canon. It derives mainly from t ...

are, without any exception, included therein. They are the truth of suffering (mundane mental and physical phenomenon), of the origin of suffering (, craving), of the extinction of suffering ( or ), and of the

Noble Eightfold Path The Noble Eightfold Path () or Eight Right Paths () is an early summary of the path of Buddhist practices leading to liberation from samsara, the painful cycle of rebirth, in the form of nirvana. The Eightfold Path consists of eight pra ...

leading to the extinction of suffering (the eight supra-mundane mind factors).

Sikhism

Sat or truthfulness is one of the 5 virtues in Sikhism.

Indian emblem motto

The motto of the republic of

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

's emblem is

Satyameva Jayate Satyameva Jayate (; ) is a part of a ''mantra'' from the Hindu texts, Hindu scripture ''Mundaka Upanishad''. Following the independence of India, it was adopted as the national motto of India on 26 January 1950, the day India became a Republic ...

which is literally translated as 'Truth alone triumphs'.

References

{{Portal bar, India, Religion, Hinduism, Philosophy Sanskrit words and phrases Jain philosophical concepts Buddhist philosophical concepts Hindu philosophical concepts Sikh philosophical concepts Buddhist ethics Jain ethics Hindu ethics Theories of truth Historical Vedic religion