________________
texts. However, it is not advised to remain resigned all the time. For instance, one must protect children from evil.
Sage Prahlad told this to his grandson, Bali:
It is not always good to forgive; neither is it good always to be angry. Even so the scholars spoke about exceptions in forgiveness.
After having addressed non-violence, we should now consider the virtue of truthfulness (satya). In various parts of the Mahabharata truth is considered to be “the highest of all moral
acts.”7
The Mahabharata says:
If we compare the power of truth with a thousand grand sacrifices, the merit acquired by truth will be still greater.
In the Tatittariya Upanishad (1/11/1) truth is given a superior place, and the other sacred duties (dharma) are described as secondary:
Speak Truth. Follow your moral duty.
In the Mahabharata there is a story where the Grandsire Bhisma was lying on a bed of arrows before his death. He teaches the essence and importance of truth, and advises Yudhishthira, the oldest son of Pandu to act only in accordance with truth. Truth
26
