Shloka 18
अनृतं नोक्तपूर्व मे न च वक्ष्ये कदाचन । देवतानामृषीणां च मध्ये सत्यं ब्रवीम्पहम्,“मैंने पहले कभी झूठ नहीं कहा है और आगे भी कभी झूठ नहीं कहूँगा। इन देवताओं तथा ऋषियोंके बीचमें मैं सच्ची बात कह रहा हूँ
anṛtaṃ noktapūrvaṃ me na ca vakṣye kadācana | devatānām ṛṣīṇāṃ ca madhye satyaṃ bravīmy aham ||
«ما نطقتُ كذبًا من قبل، ولن أنطقَ به أبدًا. وهنا، في حضرة هؤلاء الآلهة والريشيين، أُعلنُ الحقَّ.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds satya (truthfulness) as a foundational dharmic virtue: one’s speech gains moral authority when grounded in a consistent lifelong commitment to truth, especially when speaking before revered witnesses.
The speaker (Vaiśampāyana) asserts that he has never lied and will never lie, and he proclaims that what he is stating is true, invoking the presence of gods and sages as solemn witnesses to strengthen the credibility and ethical weight of his declaration.