Personality Development through Gita 3

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Personality Development through Gita 3

 

3. Be Truthful

 

 

 

Madduri Rajya Sri

 

`A thing of beauty is a joy forever' said Keats. He also

said, `Truth beauty, beauty is truth'. When truth is so beautiful, when

it gives joy to the speaker why do we speak lies, for simple things too

?

 

Observe the following conversation, for instance, between a

mother and a son.

 

`Why are you late today ?'

 

`I had a special class in English'.

 

`But I saw your friend Venu-'

 

`Oh! he's lazy. He didn't attend it.'

 

`He said that your English madam was on leave.'

 

`Yes, but other English madam took the class.'

 

`You said there was only one English madam in your college.'

 

`Oh! come on ma! don't you trust me. The other English madam

from our neighbouring college came.'

 

For one small lie, he had to build up a wall of lies. He

could have simply spoken the truth' My friend took me out with him. I

had no time to tell you. Sorry ma!' After all he had not committed a

great sin. But that's how people keep speaking lies.

 

Truth is God. God should be worshipped as the embodiment of

truth.

 

Satya Vachanaaya namah -

 

Satya Priyaayanamah

 

Satya Swaroopaya namah -

 

Salutations to the one whose speech is truth, who is a lover

of truth and who is an embodiment of truth.

 

Krishna, an embodiment of truth himself highlighted the

glory of truth in Bhagvad Gita in these lines.

 

anudvega-karam vakyam

satyam priya-hitam ca yat

svadhyayabhyasanam caiva

 

van-mayam tapa ucyate

 

Bhagavadgita 17-15

 

Synonyms

 

anudvega-karam—not agitating; vakyam—words;

satyam—truthful; priya—dear;

 

hitam—beneficial; ca—also; yat—which; svadhyaya—of

Vedic study; abhyasanam—practice; ca—also; eva—certainly;

vak-mayam—of the voice; tapah—austerity;

 

ucyate—is said to be.

 

Translation

 

Speaking truthfully, pleasingly, politely, beneficially,

without agitating others and reciting Vedic literature regularly is

known as austerity of speech. (vachika Tapasu)

 

 

 

Just as physical training is attained by the exercise of the

body, literary training is attained by exercise of the mind, spiritual

training is attained by exercise of the spirit. It means we have to

practice speaking truth everyday of our life. Initially we may find it

difficult but `practice makes a man perfect.' Gandhi was not born

great, but he achieved greatness by realizing the value of truth. He

wondered why everyone could not be as truthful as Harischandra. He

tried to change all those he came into contact with.

 

Being inspired by Gandhi's truthfulness, a boy named Madhu

decided to speak only the truth one day. It so happened that his mother

tried out a new sweet that morning and sought his opinion. He blurted

out, `It's so insipid! can you ever call it a sweet ? Why do you

trouble us with such experiments ?' Mother was taken aback. He could

not help it. On his way to college, his friend asked him excitedly

`Madhu', how do I look in this new dress ? Madhu said frankly `It is so

gaudy and dazzling. Whatever made you select such a crazy one.' His

friend was angry. That afternoon, his lecturer called him aside

anxiously, `Madhu, you know that I am preparing a guide. Read these

pages and give me your valuable suggestion. I chose you because you are

a brilliant boy.' Madhu read accordingly. He did not like a work of

it. He said, `Sir, what made you write such answers ? They don't seem

to be penned down by a learned man like you.' The lecturer was offended.

 

Madhu's enthusiasm to speak the truth has died down by the

evening, since he has hurt the feelings of three people close to him.

He walked into a park, to get out of his depression. He bought

ground-nuts, ate them and was about to throw out the paper when he came

across a joke there. He read it out.

 

A woman, `Look here, photographer. When you took my photo

ten years ago, it was so good. I looked so beautiful in it. But see

this latest photo. I look horrible. You have lost your mastery over your

profession.'

 

The photographer smilingly replied. `Yes, ma'm. I do agree

with your comment. I am losing perfection. It is because I have grown

ten years older than before.'

 

Madhu understood his mistake. How subtly the photographer

had told the woman that she was no more beautiful.

 

This story takes us to the truth in Manu Sruti.

 

Satyam bruyaat

 

Priyam bruyaat

 

Na bruyaat Satyamapriyam

 

Priyancha naanrutham bruyat

 

Esha dharma Sanaathanah.

 

Speak truth, speak pleasingly. Do not speak unpleasingly

though it is truth. Do not speak falsehood, though it is pleasing.

 

From this sloka and from Madhu's experience, we learn how to

speak the truth - speaking truth alone does not count. Speaking truth

politely is what counts. We have no right to hurt the feelings of

others. For instance Madhu could have told his mother, `You are good at

savouries', to his friend `light colours suit you better' to his

lecturer this is a better guide for dull students'. By speaking thus, he

could have won their affection on one hand and he would not have had the

guilty feeling of offending the others.

 

We continue to speak truth, we cleanse our hearts of evil

thoughts, we win the confidence of our kith and kin. We have no stress

or tension since we need not build a lie upon a lie and remember the

lies. We will be looked upon as a truthful person. Finally we attain

austerity of speech - Vaaksuddi. Whatever we speak comes true. My

daughter raised a genuine doubt - `Won't people misuse their Vaaksuddi

to curse others ?' Then I explained to her that such people will be

devoid of such petty jealousies.

 

In Bhagavatha, Bhudevi, the Goddess of the earth, lamented

in one context, `Oh Lord, I can bear the burden of any number of

sinners. But I cannot bear to carry those who have betrayed truth.'

 

We belong to the family of Satya Harischandra who was

praised byViswamitra. `The whole world can be held in the palm of one's

hand. The entire ocean can be drunk at one gulp. The earth and the sky

can be rolled into one. But it is impossible to make Harischandra ulter

a lie'.

 

Such an embodiment of truth should be our ideal saint.

 

`Satyameva jayathe'

 

`Satyaanasthi Paro dharma'

 

 

 

Note: This compilation is an emotional outcome of electrifying

inspiration derived from the works of Swami Vivekananda and Gita

Makarandam. This is meant for personality development. Memorizing the

above Sloka along with meaning and understanding the essence and

implementing it in daily life is highly recommended (especially

children). I stand corrected for any misinterpretation of the subject.

Your valuable suggestions and comments are highly appreciated –

Madduri Rajya Sri

 

www.telugubhakti.com <http://www.telugubhakti.com/>

 

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