________________
Truth
167
Brāhmaṇical system when it is said that on truth alone this earth is standing, because of truth only the sun gets the heat and the wind its blowing capacity, and everything else has its existence only because of truth. At another place truth is. compared with a sacrifice of a thousand horses but it is described as superior to that,2
To start with the historical account, in the Rgvedic ethics the conception of ķta is very significant "It is the anticipation of the law of karma". It is this law which is all-pervasive in the whole universe, not only for men, but even for the divine beings.3 Rta is supposed to be the sole criterion of morality. It is the law which maintains the movement of the world, hence the essence of everything. It is æta which is satya or truth of things.4 'Disorder or An-Rta is falsehood or the opposite of truth. This depicts the metaphysical significance of truth in the ægvedic hymns which are technically named æta. From this metaphysical aspect it proceeds to ethical aspect as well. "All those who follow the path of ķta are true and ordered, and ordered conduct is called true vrata. Vratani are the ways of life of goodmen who follow the path of Rta,"6 This consistency signified by 'ķta' is the central feature of good life according to the Ķgveda. But the Rgvedic Rșis however did not confine only to these abstract principles of morality, __1. सत्येन धार्यते पृथ्वी सत्येन तपते रवि
सत्येन वाति वायुश्च सर्व सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितम् ।
--Mahābhārata, śāntiparva, 16. 2. 24. 2. 3TJÀTHEE Hai 2 1991 ay
अश्वमेधसहस्राद्धि सत्यमेव विशिष्यते ।
-Ibid.
3. Pinteftat fa: 1
-Rgveda, 10. 85. 1. 4. WAS ATITITETETTHETATUTTI
-Ibid., 10. 190. 1. 5. Ibid., 7. 66. 13. 6. Indian Philosophy --S. Radhakrishnan, p. 110.
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