Goodwill

ahiṁsā satyam asteyam akāma-krodha-lobhatā

ahiṁsā satyam asteyam akāma-krodha-lobhatā |
bhūta-priya-hitehā ca dharmo’yaṁ sarva-varṇikaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.17.21)

“Non-violence, truthfulness, non-thievery, the absence of lust, anger, and greediness, action that is beneficial and pleasing to [all] beings [alt., fondness and well-wishing for all beings]—this is the dharma for all varṇas [i.e., these qualities are fit to be cultivated by the members of all the varṇas and by those outside the four varṇas as well].”

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ātmaupamyena sarvatra samaṁ paśyati yo’rjuna

ātmaupamyena sarvatra samaṁ paśyati yo’rjuna |
sukhaṁ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṁ sa yogī paramo mataḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā: 6.32)

“One who sees everything equally in likeness to oneself, be it happiness or suffering, is considered a great yogī [i.e., a great yogī is one who sees the happiness and suffering of oneself and others as the same thing, desires happiness for all and suffering for no one, and is thus compassionate to all].”

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kiṁsvit satyaṁ kim anṛtaṁ kiṁsvid dharmyaṁ sanātanam

kiṁsvit satyaṁ kim anṛtaṁ kiṁsvid dharmyaṁ sanātanam |
kasmin kāle vadet satyaṁ kasmin kāle’nṛtaṁ vadet ||
satyasya vacanaṁ sādhu na satyād vidyate param |
yad bhūloke sudurjñātaṁ tat te vakṣyāmi bhārata ||
bhavet satyam avaktavyaṁ vaktavyam anṛtaṁ bhavet |
yatrānṛtaṁ bhavet satyaṁ satyaṁ vāpy anṛtaṁ bhavet ||
tādṛśe muhyate bālo yatra satyam aniṣṭhitam |
satyānṛte viniścitya tato bhavati dharmavit ||
(Mahābhārata: 12.110.3–6)

[Yudhiṣṭhira inquires:] “‘What is truth? What is untruth? What is always in accord with dharma? When should truth be spoken? When should untruth be spoken?’ [Bhīṣmadeva answers:] Truthful speech is best. There is nothing greater than truth. That which is very difficult to understand on the surface of earth [i.e., truth] I shall describe to you, O descendant of Bhārata. Truth can be improper to speak, and untruth can be proper to speak. An unwise person is bewildered by that wherein untruth can be truth or truth can also be untruth, and wherein truth is not fixed. After determining [what is] truth and [what is] untruth one then becomes a knower of dharma.”

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na tathya-vacanaṁ satyaṁ nātathya-vacanaṁ mṛṣā

na tathya-vacanaṁ satyaṁ nātathya-vacanaṁ mṛṣā |
yad-bhūta-hitam atyantaṁ tat-satyam itaran mṛṣā ||
(Subhāṣita-sudha-nidhi)

“Speaking in accord with facts is not truthfulness. Speaking not in accord with facts is not falsity. That which is supremely beneficial for living beings is truth, and that which is otherwise is falsity.”

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na satyaṁ kevalaṁ satyam anṛtaṁ na tathānṛtam

na satyaṁ kevalaṁ satyam anṛtaṁ na tathānṛtam |
hitaṁ yat sarva-lokasya tat satyaṁ śeṣam anyathā ||
(Bhārata Mañjarī)

“Truth is not just truth, and falsity is not just falsity. That which is beneficial to all beings is truth, and the remainder [i.e., all else] is otherwise [i.e., falsity].”

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satyasya vacanaṁ śreyaḥ satyād api hitaṁ vadet

satyasya vacanaṁ śreyaḥ satyād api hitaṁ vadet |
yad bhūta-hitam atyantam etat satyaṁ mataṁ mama ||
(Mahābhārata: Śānti-parva, 316.13)

[Sanāt Kumāra:] “Speaking the truth is best. Speaking that which is beneficial is even better than [speaking] truth. That which is supremely beneficial to living beings is truth. This is my opinion.”

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satyaṁ brūyāt priyaṁ brūyān na brūyāt satyam apriyaṁ

satyaṁ brūyāt priyaṁ brūyān na brūyāt satyam apriyaṁ |
priyaṁ ca nānṛtaṁ brūyād eṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ ||
(Manu Smṛti: 4.138)

“Speak the truth, and speak that which is pleasant. Do not speak an unpleasant truth, and do not speak a pleasant untruth. This is the age-old dharma.”

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