Satya

satye pratiṣṭhitaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ satyam atra pratiṣṭhitam

satye pratiṣṭhitaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ satyam atra pratiṣṭhitam |
satyāt satyaṁ ca govindas tasmāt satyo hi nāmataḥ ||
(Mahābhārata: 5.70.12; cited in Bhagavat Sandarbha: 58; Kṛṣṇa Sandarbha: 82)

“Kṛṣṇa is fixed in truth, and truth is fixed in him. Govinda is the truth beyond truth [alt., beyond Satyaloka], and thus by name he is [known as] Satya (Truth).”

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asadbhiḥ śapathenoktaṁ jale likhitam akṣaram

asadbhiḥ śapathenoktaṁ jale likhitam akṣaram |
sadbhis tu līlayā proktaṁ śilā-likhitam akṣaram ||
(Subhāṣita-ratna-bhāṇḍāgāra)

“The words [even] under oath of the wicked are like letters written on water [i.e., completely insubstantial]. The [even] playful words of sādhus, however, are like words written in stone [i.e., they certainly prove truthful].”

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vibhūtiḥ tyāga-hīna iva satya-hīna iva bhārati

vibhūtiḥ tyāga-hīna iva satya-hīna iva bhārati |
vidyā praśama-hīna iva na bhāti strī patiṁ vinā ||
(Rāmāyaṇa Mañjarī: Ayodhyā)

“Like wealth without giving, speech without truth, and learning without tranquility, a lady does not shine without her husband.”

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hṛdayaṁ sadayaṁ yasya bhāṣitaṁ satya-bhūṣitam

hṛdayaṁ sadayaṁ yasya bhāṣitaṁ satya-bhūṣitam |
kāyaḥ para-hitopāyaḥ kaliḥ kurvīta tasya kim ||
(Vairāgya-śataka of Padmanandana)

“What can Kali do to one whose heart is compassionate, whose speech is adorned with truth, and whose body is an instrument for the well-being of others?”

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yasmin yathā vartate yo manuṣyas

yasmin yathā vartate yo manuṣyas
tasmiṁs tathā vartitavyaṁ sa dharmaḥ |
māyācāro māyayā vartitavyaḥ
sādhv-ācāraḥ sādhunā pratyudeyaḥ ||
(Mahābhārata: 5.37.7, 12.110.27)

“Dharma is that which is to be acted out in relation to, and accord with, how a person acts [towards oneself, i.e., one should treat others as others treat oneself]. Deceitful behavior is to be employed with one who is deceitful, and honest behavior is to be requited with one who is honest.”

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eṣā buddhimatāṁ buddhir

eṣā buddhimatāṁ buddhir manīṣā ca manīṣiṇām |
yat satyam anṛteneha martyenāpnoti māmṛtam ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.29.22)

“This is the intelligence of the intelligent, and the cleverness of the clever: here with that which is unreal and mortal [the material body], one attains Me, who am real and immortal.”

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