Gems from the Upanishads

Satyam vada – Speak the truth

Taittreeya Upanishad, Shikshavalli 1

वेदमनूच्याचार्योऽन्तेवासिनमनुशास्ति।
सत्यं वद।
धर्मं चर।
स्वाध्यायान्माप्रमदः।
आचार्याय प्रियं धनमाहृत्य प्रजातन्तुं मा व्यवच्छेत्सीः।
सत्यान्न प्रमदितव्यम्‌।
धर्मान्न प्रमदितव्यम्‌।
कुशलान्न प्रमदितव्यम्‌।
भूत्यै न प्रमदितव्यम्‌।
स्वाध्यायप्रवचनाभ्यां न प्रमदितव्यम्‌।

Vedam-anoochya-acharyo-antevaasinam-anushaasti.
Satyam Vada.
Dharma chara.
Svaadhyaayaanmaa-pramadah.
Aachaaryaaya priyam dhanam-aahritya
prajaatantum maa vyavach-chhetseeh.
Satyaanna pramaditavyam.
Dharmaanna pramaditavyam.
Kushalaanna pramaditavyam.
Bhootyai na pramaditavyam.
Svaadhyaaya-pravachanaa-bhyaam na pramaditavyam.

Having gifted the Vedas, the Master (the One who gives the Veda) instructs us as follows:
– Speak the Truth
– Live righteously
– Always remember (and refer to) the (teaching of the) Vedas
– Let your children be noble and let that nobility be the gift to God and along with your children/family:
– Always be mindful of the truth
– Always remember your righteous duty
– Be prosperous
– Be progressive
– Follow the wisdom of the Vedas in everything you do.

वेदम् अनुच्य having given the Vedas आचार्यः the Teacher/Master (expounder/giver of the Vedas), अन्तेवसिनम् to the disciples, students अनुशास्ति imparts, instructs, commands (as follows) सत्यं वद speak truth धर्मं चर walk the righteous path स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः never neglect the study of the Vedas आचार्याय for the Master/teacher प्रियं धनमाहृत्य give the desired gift of प्रजातन्तुं noble progeny मा व्यवच्छेत्सीः without distinction or separation (always united) सत्यात् न प्रमदितव्यम् never be negligent of truth धर्मात् न प्रमदितव्यम् never be negligent of your duty कुशलात् न प्रमदितव्यम् never be negligent of your own progress and welfare भूत्यै न प्रमदितव्यम्‌ never be negligent toward your own prosperity and upliftment स्वाध्यायप्रवचनाभ्यां न प्रमदितव्यम्‌ never neglect the study and teaching of the Vedas.