Satyamev Jayate National Motto of India
What is truth? It is synonymous with justice. It is all about playing fair. It is all about adhering to ethical practices. This is what is reflected in India’s emblem where the words Satyamev Jayate are etched big and bold. The words Satyamev Jayate literally translate into ‘Truth alone Triumphs’. History tells us that tyrants and evil have risen to power time and again. They have, again and again, destroyed peace in this world. They have, again and again, managed to portray themselves as invincible. At the end however, they have all been reduced to ashes because, at the end, truth and love have always prevailed.
One amazing thing about truth is that it gives birth to a force – a force that allows people to face all adversities and fight against lies and tyranny. There are many examples of this. If we look at India’s history, we see Gandhiji. If we look at South Africa, we see Nelson Mandela. Gandhiji used truth and its force to end colonial rule in India. Nelson Mandela eventually killed apartheid using truth and its force.
Source of Satyamev Jayate
Have you ever wondered where this phrase Satyamev Jayate actually come from? Is it just a random phrase or does it have deep roots in Indian culture? Well, let us find out!
Satyamev Jayate is not a random phrase. We can say that it is one of the national identities of Indian Republic. Not only can we find it inscribed on our National Emblem but it can also be found on national documents as well as on currency notes and even coins that circulate through Indian economy.
These two words, as we said, are not random. They are a part of Mukanda Upanishad – a scripture from ancient India. To me more accurate, the two words are from a mantra which reads as (please note that the mantra has been literally copied from online source here):
“satyameva jayate nānṛtaṁ
satyena panthā vitato devayānaḥ
yenākramantyṛṣayo hyāptakāmā
yatra tat satyasya paramaṁ nidhānam”
What does that mean? Let us find out:
| satyameva jayate nānṛtaṁ | It is not falsehood that wins but truth that always triumphs. |
| satyena panthā vitato devayānaḥ | If there is something through which the divine path propagates then it is nothing but the truth. |
| yenākramantyṛṣayo hyāptakāmā | It is this divine path that is used by sages (who don’t have earthly desires), |
| yatra tat satyasya paramaṁ nidhānam | To reach the destination where the ultimate treasure lies – the truth. |
So, what we come to learn from this mantra is that the ultimate treasure in this world is truth. There is nothing more supreme than that and everyone should seek for the same.
Satyamev Jayate as an Integral Part of Modern India
The words Satyamev Jayate became an integral part of modern India after her independence. The words became India’s national motto in year 1950 on January 26. Though India adopted the words as national motto in 1950, the words were already in circulation since 1918 Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya used them as slogan during freedom struggle back in 1918. At that time, Pandit Malaviya was Indian National Congress’ president. In case you didn’t known, Pandit Malaviya was the person who founded the famous Banaras Hindu University.
As of today, we all know that the words Satyamev Jayate have entered into Bollywood’s silver screen as well as into Indian Television. In 1987, Bollywood came up with a movie titled ‘Satyamev Jayate’. Later on, famous movie star Amir Khan took the words on a social spin through his TV series titled ‘Satyamev Jayate’.
So yes, today the words are no longer used at national level alone. They have entered lounge rooms of Indians. Where are these words going to head next? Undeniably, we should revert back to spiritual and social wisdom that these words original reflected.
Why exactly did we say this? Let us find out…
Why Indians and World as a Whole Needs to Rediscover Satyamev Jayate?
Success! Don’t you crave for that? Have you come across people who use falsehood and lies to climb up the ladder of success? You feel jealous and at one point you even think that you should relinquish the path of truth and use fraudulent means to achieve quick success.
Don’t forget, such success is short lived and the person who has achieved such success lives in constant fear of being caught and fired from job. Do you really want that kind of success?
Now think of an honest and truthful man you have seen. Do you remember seeing him worried and agitated? Have you noticed how he remains calm and gets respect from people around him or her? That’s the power and aura of truth. It commands respect.
So yes, truth is better than lies because history has proven it again and again that falsehood eventually loses. However, do you think truth is always good? Sometimes truth can do more harm than good.
For example, have you ever thought what would happen if parents told their children that Santa Clause is mere fiction? Have you ever thought what would happen if a patient with a terminal illness is not given hope but blatantly told that he or she will die because the disease is incurable? The impact of such truth can be devastating.
Satyamev Jayate does say that truth always triumphs but there is a deep inherent meaning. If lies are told with a good motive of helping, they are at times, better than truth which are spoken with ill intent. Satyamev Jayate thus tells us to keep our motives and intentions good and truthful. If a few lies can help others in achieving things like hope, faith and belief, if a few lies can save people’s lives and do them good beyond measure then, that is also triumph because, at the end of the day, intentions were good.
So, what do you think Satyamev Jayate actually stands for? Do you have a different opinion to share? Feel free to drop us a message and tell us about your thoughts. We will love to hear them.
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