Sharing Sanjivani (Sanjivani - Life Saving Herb)

Chapter 4 - What is truth?

What is truth?

हिरण्यमयेन पात्रेण सत्यस्यापिहितम्  मुखम् ।

यो असवादित्ये  पुरुषः सोङसावहम् ।। (यजुर्वेद) 

Hiranmayen patren satyasyapihitam mukham 

Yo asavaditye purushah soasavaham (Yajurveda)

The above verse means that:

The face of truth is concealed by the golden cover (of illusion)
That Purusha (man) in the Sun is none but me.

How can we recognize ourselves in the light of the Sun in the sky (knowledge in this world) what is truth? This is the question asked by Nachiketa to Lord of Death -Yam in KATHOPANISHAD:
"When a man dies, this doubt arises; some say he 'is here only, some say he 'is not here. Please teach me the truth."

Here Arjun asked Lord Krishna. Which is the right path of truth?

When Arjun saw the army of Kauravas he got ready to fight with bow and arrow and fetch weapons but when Duryodhan saw the army of Pandavas he felt nervous. He went to Dronacharya and tried to raise his anger and envy for Pandavas as they were against their Guru and ready to fight with Guru Dronacharya in the war. But when he could not create Guru Dronacharya's anger against Pandavas and his tricks were failed, he tried to please Dronacharya and told him sweetly that he knew that Kauravas were safe under Guru's shelter.

But the inward fear and feeling of insecurity made Duryodhan restless. A person who is full of sin and guilt, doing wrong deeds and injustice cannot get peace of mind. So he is afraid. He was greedy and full of cupidity. He wanted to be the king and to rule over Hastinapur was his dream. When Arjun and Duryodhan went to Shri Krishna for help, Duryodhan demanded Army well equipped with all the weapons and riches while Arjun requested Lord Krishna to be with him in the Dharma Yuddha. Arjun was a devotee of Krishna and he was having full faith in God. His life was full of righteousness and virtues. He is full of confidence on the war field because he was on the right path and following truth only.

The dharma of an individual, (suggested by where he sits), is the duty required by him according to his place in life, where he stands. In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna tells Arjun that he should fight the war as a warrior and a protector of his people because Dharma must be dictated by the larger good or benefit to the larger number, ahead of one's own individual good or benefit. As it is said that we have to sacrifice the benefit of one person for the benefit of many, we have to sacrifice the benefit of the family for the benefit of the country, we have to sacrifice the benefit of the country for the welfare of the world.

While Duryodhan was seeking worldly pleasures and riches, materialist gain and was ready to do anything to acquire land and Kingship. When a person lost his values of life and became materialistic only he surely sees the downfall in his life.

On the other side when a person is full of truth and following Dharma only doing everything for the sake of society and doing nothing wrong, would be protected by God. God is always with the truthful person in hours of disasters and therefore nobody can defeat a truthful person. SANCHKO AANCH NAHI Truth is never defeated. .For example when we have contact with some VIP's or politicians or great officers we feel ourselves secured in our life but think when you feel 24*7*365 days and nights God with you what kind of great confidence you would have in your heart and that confidence, spiritual power 'SHRADDHA'- faith makes you strong enough to face and fight anything against anybody.

But why don't we have enough confidence or faith in our God? If we have never done anything wrong to anybody we should not fear anything. But we are not sure about our deeds, our karma. We justify our wrong deeds with our knowledge, logical arguments and try to prove ourselves a truthful person but inwardly we know that we are not. So the fear factor remains.

Nobody can throw a stone at anybody if he has to prove that he is hundred percent a truthful person. Hence when something wrong happens to us we have to check our deeds. But we did not accept it and blame our fate. Bhagavad Gita says that we are responsible to create our fate by our deeds good or bad. Fate is nothing but a grown-up tree with fruits of deeds. If we have planted cactus how can we expect roses because the Law of seed and Law of nature are the same as the Law of Karma? Reap as you sow BOYA PED BABULAKA AAM KAHASE PAOGE? As it is said by Raman Maharshi:

"Wanting to change and reform the world without discovering one's self is like trying to cover the world with leather to avoid the pain of walking on stones and thorns. It is much simpler to wear shoes".

Now let's examine our daily busy routine. Do we ever think about good or bad, every moment? Do we always think about its consequences before we do something? Have we ever examined our entire task in terms of morality or immorality? Do we really have any time of pondering over every work in terms of honesty? Or we do work as we are used to doing it. we do our work with an intention of earning money, satisfying boss, providing pleasures to our beloveds or for our own selfish interest or needs. Then how can we justify our everyday karma on the measurement of truth or untruth?

Let's find out our answer from Lord Krishna.

Are you with me? Stay connected in the journey in quest of truth...