‘May the truth protect me in all ways’ Rig-Veda

One of the basic tenets of Indian constitution is ‘Ultimately the truth prevails’, namely Satyamev Jayate. The truth does protect us but I think its ways can be, sometimes a bit wonky.

I remember when I was young, I told a lie to avoid being scolded. My mother, of course, caught my lie. She did not shout. She simply told me, if you speak the truth, you would always remember what you said. But if you tell a lie, you will forget what you said at what time and then you will be caught. Come on, what a practical way of encouraging telling the truth at all times.

I cannot say that I never lie. That would be a lie. But I avoid telling it unless the need is dire. Sometimes, it is better to lie or at least twist the truth a bit in order to save a relationship. When you are consoling a friend who has been dumped by her boyfriend, you say,’ he was a jerk’. You know he was not and you know that your friend is also to be blamed but at that moment, you don’t tell her the truth. Situations like these are common.

But the truth ultimately does prevail. I have seen it in my own life not once or twice but many times over. And if we stick to the truth, it protects us always. One gets a reputation of being truthful so people trust us. They take our word seriously. They come to you if they are in a dilemma. They ask your opinion about everything. They make you a role model and want to follow you or at least want their children to follow. So if we were able to make a difference in just one person’s life, we would have achieved something in our life.

Just do this for a day. Spend the whole day without telling a lie. Then at the end of the day, reflect how do you feel. I bet you will be happy.

So be it!!!