TRUTH- REALITY-SATYAM-सत्यं

SUBHASHITHANI:225

To speak truth is an eternal value irrespective of time and place. But the expression of truth should be accompanied by two conditions. Firstly, it should be presented in a loving manner and secondly it should be spoken for the betterment of others. 
Maha bharata mentions that 'satya' is not just speaking truth but has many other attributes. 

सत्यस्य वचनं श्रेयः सत्यादिपि हितंवदेत् ।
यद्*भूतहितमत्यन्तं एतत् सत्यम् मतं मम ॥--MahAbhArata
satyasya vachanaM shreyaH satyAdipi hitaMvadet |
yad^bhUtahitamatyantaM etat satyam mataM mama ||
Telling truth is recommended, but more than that, tell those things which are in interest of all. According to Narada, truth is that which is beneficial to [all] beings.

 सत्यं त्रयोदश विदं सर्व लोकेषु भारत I Maha bharatham

 सत्यं च शमता चैव दमस्चैव न संशयः Iअमात्सर्यं क्षमास्स्चैव ह्रीः तितिक्षा  अनसूयतः I

त्यागो ध्यानं अथ आर्जत्वं धृतिः च सततं दया I अहिंसा चैव  राजेन्द्र! सत्याकारा त्रयोदशा  I

'Satyam'- Truth or reality has thirteen attributes according to maha bharata . 
They are as follows :

1. Shamataa- Tranquility of mind  2.Damah- self-restraint 3.      Amaatsaryam- Absence of jealousy   4. Kshama- Patience 5. Hreeh- modesty 6.Titiksha- forbearance 7.Anasooyatah- absence of envy 8.Tyagah- sacrifice 9.DhyAna –meditation  11. Arjatvam- rectitude 11.DhRti –firmness  12.DayA- compassion and 13. Ahimsa- Non violence

सत्येन धार्यते पृथ्वी सत्येन तपते रविः ।
सत्येन वायवो वान्ति सर्वं सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥Chanakya niti

satyena dhāryate pṛthvī satyena tapate raviḥ।
satyena vāti vāyuśca sarvaṃ satye pratiṣṭhitam॥

The earth is supported by the power of truth; it is the power of truth that makes the sun shine and the winds blow; indeed all things rest upon truth. 

वचो हि सत्यं परं विभूषणम्   गजा (लज्जा)ङ्गनायाः कृशाता कटौ च ।
द्विजस्य विद्यैव पुनस्तथा क्षमा  शीलं हि सर्वस्य नरस्य भूषणम् ॥nIti shataka

Speaking the truth is the highest ornament; for a woman with the stately gait of an elephant slenderness of the middle is (the highest ornament); for the twice-born, learning and in addition patience. Good character is an ornament for all mankind. 
श्रद्धापत्नी सत्यं यजमानः॥

श्रद्धासत्यं तदित्युत्तमं मिथुनम्॥

श्रद्धया सत्येन मिथुनेन स्वर्गाल्लोकान् जयतीति॥

Shraddhaa patnee  satyam yajamaanah I

Shraddha satyam tadityuttamam mitunam II

Shraddhayaa satyena mithunena svarga lokaan jayateeti II

Faith is wife, and truth is husband; this couple is the best ever ; by this couple people can go beyond even svarga very easily.

दण्डन्यास: परं दानं कामत्यागस्तप: स्मृतम् ।
स्वभावविजय: शौर्यं सत्यं च समदर्शनम् ॥ ३७ ॥Uddhava Gita

The greatest charity is to give up all aggression toward others, and renunciation of lust is understood to be real austerity. Real heroism is to conquer one’s natural tendency to enjoy material life, and reality is seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead everywhere.

ब्रह्म सत्यं जगन्मिथ्या जीवो ब्रह्मैव नापरः । ब्रह्मज्ञानावलीमाला ॥Sankaracharya

Brahman is Permanent Existence, World of names and forms are temporary appearances that are illusory in nature, the Innermost Self/Atman is non-different from Brahman.

सत्येन लोकान् जयति दीनान् दानेन राघवः।
गुरूञ्छुश्रूषया वीरो धनुषा युधि शात्रवान्।।Ramayana

Rama is a hero who wins over the people by his truthfulness, the poor by charity, the preceptors by his service and the enemies in the battle by the power of his bow.

सत्यं दानं तपस्त्यागो मित्रता शौचमार्जवम्।

विद्या च गुरुशुश्रूषा ध्रुवाण्येतानि राघवे।।2.12.30।।Ramayana

Satyam,daanam, tapas,tyago, mitrataa,saucham,aarjavam I

Vidyaa cha guru shuroohaa dhruvaanyetaani Raagave II

Truth, munificence, asceticism, renunciation, purity, uprightness, learning and service to his superiors all those (virtues) are firmly planted in Rama.

सत्यं मृदु प्रियं वाक्यं धीरो हितकरं वदेत् ।
आत्मोत्कर्षं तथा निन्दां परेषां परिवर्जयेत् ॥

Satyam mrudu priyam vaakyam dheero hitakaram vadet I

Aatmotkarsham tathaa nindaam pareshaam parivarjayet II

A wise man’s speech should have the following features : truthful , soft , pleasant , beneficial to others, and should help one’s own improvement .  Also, he should avoid talking ill of others.
सत्येन रक्ष्यते धर्मो विद्या योगेन रक्ष्यते ।

मृजया रक्ष्यते रूपं कुलं वृत्तेन रक्ष्यते ॥Vidura niti

Satyena rakshyate dharmo vidyaa yogena rakshyate

Mrijayaa rakshyate roopam kulam vrittena rakshyate

Dharma is protected by Truth,  Learning is protected by Yoga , beauty is protected by cleanliness and the clan or family is protected by good conduct.

सत्यमेव व्रतं यस्य दया दीनेषु सर्वदा ।
कामक्रोधौ वशे यस्य स साधुः – कथ्यते बुधैः ॥

One who has taken a vow of truth, always feels compassion for the poor ,  keeps under control lust and anger, wise men call him a sadhu ( saintly).

सत्यहीना वृथा पूजा सत्यहीनो वृथा जपः ।
सत्यहीनं तपो व्यर्थमूषरे वपनं यथा ॥

Satyaheena vrutaa poojaa, satyaheeno vrutaa japah I

Satyaheenam tapo vyartam ushare vapanam yatha II

Without truthfulness puja, japa, tapas are all useless, like sowing a seed in saline soil.

सत्यं स्वर्गस्य सोपानं पारावरस्य नौरिव ।
न पावनतमं किञ्चित् सत्यादभ्यधिकं क्वचित् ॥

Satyam is a ladder to svarga ,  like a boat is for  crossing the ocean . There is nothing more potent than satyam for purifying oneself.

सत्यं विधातुं निजभृत्यभाषितं
व्याप्तिं च भूतेष्वखिलेषु चात्मन: ।
अद‍ृश्यतात्यद्भ‍ुतरूपमुद्वहन्
स्तम्भे सभायां न मृगं न मानुषम् ॥ १७ ॥ ŚB 7.8.17
satyaṁ vidhātuṁ nija-bhṛtya-bhāṣitaṁ
vyāptiṁ ca bhūteṣv akhileṣu cātmanaḥ
adṛśyatātyadbhuta-rūpam udvahan
stambhe sabhāyāṁ na mṛgaṁ na mānuṣam
To prove that the statement of His supreme devotee Prahlāda  was substantial — in other words, to prove that the Supreme Lord is present everywhere, even within the pillar of an assembly hall — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, exhibited a wonderful form never before seen. The form was neither that of a man nor that of a lion. Thus the Lord appeared in His wonderful form in the assembly hall.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH