Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)
नोक्तपूर्व मया क्षुद्रमश्लीलं वा कदाचन । ऋता ब्रह्म॒सुता सा मे सत्या देवी सरस्वती
noktāpūrvaṃ mayā kṣudram aślīlaṃ vā kadācana | ṛtā brahmasutā sā me satyā devī sarasvatī ||
Kailanman ay hindi ako nagsalita ng hamak o mahalay. Ang Katotohanan mismo—si Sarasvatī, ang diyosang anak ni Brahmā—ang aking pananalita. Kaya ang mga pantas na nananahan sa Brahmaloka, na sumibol mula sa lotus ng aking pusod, ay tumatawag sa akin na “Satya” (Katotohanan), sapagkat sa loob ko’y nasasaklaw at naitatakda sa nararapat ang tunay at ang di-tunay.
तामिन्द्र उवाच गच्छ नहुषस्त्वया वाच्योथ<पूर्वेण मामृषियुक्तेन यानेन त्वमधिरूढ
The verse upholds satya (truthfulness) and śuddha-vāk (pure, disciplined speech): one should avoid base or obscene words, and treat speech as sacred—aligned with ṛta (moral/cosmic order).
The speaker asserts his impeccable conduct in speech, identifying Sarasvatī (the divine principle of speech) with his own voice and explaining why sages regard him as ‘Satya’—a personification of truth.