Shloka 75

Devanagari script

सत्यमेव गरीयस्तु शिष्टाचारनिषेवितम्‌ । आचारक्न सतां धर्म: संतश्षाचारलक्षणा:,अतः शिष्ट पुरुषोंके आचारमें गृहीत सत्य ही सबसे अधिक गौरवकी वस्तु है। सदाचार ही श्रेष्ठ पुरुषोंका धर्म है। सदाचारसे ही संतोंकी पहचान होती है

Transliteration

satyam eva garīyas tu śiṣṭācāra-niṣevitam | ācāraḥ satāṁ dharmaḥ santaś cācāra-lakṣaṇāḥ ||

Translation

Truth—when embraced and practiced in accordance with the conduct of the well-bred and disciplined—is the highest value. Right conduct itself is the dharma of the good; and it is by such conduct that saints and truly noble people are recognized.

Word by Word

सत्यम्truth

एवindeed/only

गरीयःmore weighty/superior

तुbut/indeed (emphatic)

शिष्टाचारनिषेवितम्practised/observed by the conduct of the cultured (i.e., sanctioned by good custom)

आचारःconduct/good practice

चand

सताम्of the good/virtuous people

धर्मःdharma/duty

सन्तःsaints/good people

आचारलक्षणाःcharacterized by (good) conduct

अतःtherefore

Speaker

व्याध उवाच

Characters & Entities

व

व्याध (the hunter, speaker)

श

शिष्ट (the cultured/learned)

स

सत्/सन्त (the virtuous/saints)

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Truthfulness is supreme when it is lived as part of disciplined, exemplary conduct; ethical conduct is itself the dharma of the virtuous, and it is the primary sign by which truly good people are known.

What is happening in the narrative?

The hunter (Vyādha), speaking as a moral instructor, emphasizes that genuine righteousness is recognized not by status but by adherence to truth and the cultivated conduct of the noble—presenting conduct as the practical hallmark of sanctity.