सत्यं च सम-दर्शनम् ।
satyaṁ ca sama-darśanam |
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.19.37)
“Truthfulness is equal vision.”
Commentary
According to Śrīdhara Svāmīpāda, truthfulness is consideration of that which is equal, Brahman, because of this [i.e., Brahman] being a true object; truthfulness is not simply speech as is befitting (samaṁ brahma tasya darśanam ālocanaṁ satya-viṣayatvāt satyaṁ, na yathārha-bhāṣaṇā-mātram).
According to Jīva Gosvāmī, equal vision is as per statements such as the following [i.e., SB 6.17.28, where Śiva explains to Pārvatī], “All who are devoted to Nārāyaṇa do not become afraid under any circumstances. They see the same object amid Svarga, liberation, and even Naraka” (sama-darśanaṁ “nārāyaṇa-parāḥ sarve” ity-ādi rītyā).
According to Viśvanātha Cakravartīpāda, truthfulness means equal vision, that is, consideration everywhere of suffering [on the part of others] as the same as one’s own by forsaking envy, indignation, and other forms of bias (inequality), as per this statement in Śrī 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].”
Truthfulness is not simply speaking as per the object (satyaṁ sama-darśanam īrṣyāsūyādi-vaiṣamya-parityāgena sarvatra sva-sama-duḥkhālocanaṁ, ātmaupamyena sarvatra samaṁ paśyati yo’rjuna | sukhaṁ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṁ sa yogī paramo mataḥ || iti śrī-gītokteḥ | na tu yathārtha-bhāṣaṇa-mātram).