सत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयात् न ब्रूयात् सत्यमप्रियम् ।
प्रियं च नानृतं ब्रूयात् एष धर्मः सनातनः ॥ satyaṃ brūyāt priyaṃ brūyāt na brūyāt satyamapriyam | priyaṃ ca nānṛtaṃ brūyāt eṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ || One should speak the truth, and say nice things. One should not say things that are true if they are not nice. And nor should one say nice things if they are not true : This is the ancient practice "One should speak the truth, one should speak what is dear, but one should not speak a truth that is unpleasant. One should not speak dear words that are false. This is the eternal धर्म." Word-by-Word Meaning सत्यं: Truth; derived from "सत्य" (satya), meaning that which is existing or real. ब्रूयात्: One should speak; from the root "बोध" (bodha), denoting the act of vocal expression. प्रियं: Dear or pleasant; derived from "प्रिय" (priya), meaning what is loved or cherished. न: Not; a negation used commonly in Sanskrit. ब्रूयात्: One should speak; repeated for emphasis. सत्यं: Truth; reiterating the concept of truthfulness in the context. अप्रियम्: Unpleasant; derived from "अप्रिय" (apriya), meaning not dear or unpleasing. प्रियं: Dear or pleasant; a repetition to emphasize the nature of communication one should avoid. च: And; a conjunction linking the ideas. नानृतं: Not false; from "अनृत" (anrita), meaning untruth or lie. ब्रूयात्: One should speak; maintaining the focus on speech and its moral implications. एष: This; indicating specificity to the following concept. धर्मः: Duty or righteousness; from the root "धृ" (dhṛ), meaning to hold or maintain. सनातनः: Eternal; meaning timeless or ancient, indicating the everlasting nature of this principle. The shloka articulates a nuanced approach to communication, emphasizing the importance of truth while also highlighting the need for sensitivity in how we express it. The first clause, "सत्यं ब्रूयात्" indicates that truthfulness is paramount. However, the subsequent emphasis on speaking only what is "प्रियं" (प्रियं) suggests that the manner and content of communication are equally important; one should aim to avoid causing discomfort or harm through honest expressions that may be unpleasant, as noted in "न ब्रूयात् सत्यमप्रियम्". The latter part of the verse advises against falsehood, advocating that what is dear should not come from a place of inauthenticity—"प्रियं च नानृतं ब्रूयात्", reinforcing that kindness and warmth in communication must not be built on lies. The phrase “ एष धर्मः सनातनः” encapsulates the core philosophy, asserting that these ethical guidelines are not just situational but are eternal and foundational to human interaction. The significance of this shloka lies in its timeless relevance in guiding interpersonal communication and moral behavior. It reminds individuals to seek a balance between honesty and compassion, fostering an environment of trust and kindness. In practical applications, it encourages people to think critically about their words, promoting empathy and sensitivity in discussions. Moreover, it asserts the essence of धर्म, challenging us to reflect on our ethical responsibilities while engaging with others, ultimately striving for a harmonious society where truth and love coexist. KR IRS 19626 On Fri, 19 Jun 2026 at 04:03, Jambunathan Iyer <[email protected]> wrote: > *The Power of Sweet Words* > > *Speaking sweet words is not just politeness; it is a divine attitude that > uplifts hearts and builds harmony. Thiruvalluvar emphasizes that gentle > speech brings joy, removes sorrow, and creates lasting bonds. Sweet words > are medicine for the mind, a lamp for relationships, and a bridge for > peace.* > > > *N Jambunathan , Chennai " What you get by achieving your goals is not as > important as what you become by achieving your goals. If you want to live a > happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things "* > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZooeB1gWDyeu6%2BWW4MjDq_6NgBkAkXYNNPB_0QkfqOuTHg%40mail.gmail.com.
