Shloka 32
Go-dāna-phala-nirdeśa
Merit and Destinations from the Gift of Cows
मुनयः सत्यनिरता मुनयः सत्यविक्रमा: । मुनय: सत्यशपथास्तस्मात् सत्यं विशिष्यते,ऋषि-मुनि सत्यपरायण, सत्यपराक्रमी और सत्यप्रतिज्ञ होते हैं। इसलिये सत्य सबसे श्रेष्ठ है
munayaḥ satyaniratā munayaḥ satyavikramāḥ | munayaḥ satyaśapathās tasmāt satyaṃ viśiṣyate ||
Bhishma dit : «Les sages demeurent inébranlablement voués à la vérité ; les sages sont vaillants par la vérité ; les sages sont liés par des vœux de vérité. Ainsi, la vérité se distingue comme l’excellence la plus haute.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Truth (satya) is presented as the supreme virtue because the very identity, strength, and vows of the sages are rooted in truth; it is the foundation of moral authority and spiritual power.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira on dharma and right conduct. Here he highlights the exemplary status of sages, emphasizing that their discipline and credibility arise from unwavering truthfulness, concluding that truth is therefore foremost.