• Satyarth Prakash - an embodiment of a person who lived and died for upholding truth •

 • Satyarth Prakash - an embodiment of a person who lived and died for upholding truth •

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- Bharatendra Nath

One desirous of finding the fundamentals of truth, essence of true knowledge and the splendid pattern of character building blended together, must turn to the pages of Satyarth Prakash (The Light of Truth) which is the magnum opus of the great Indian sage who appeared on the scene in the 19th century. This is the monumental work of one of the greatest and the fore-most sons of India who had never bowed down before falsehood and never discriminated between man and man and who remained a seeker and propagator of truth throughout his whole life and who lived and died for upholding truth. Satyarth Prakash which he has left as an imperishable legacy to his countrymen and to the world at large is an embodiment of the genius of the master.

Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the author of Satyarth Prakash, was, no doubt, a World Teacher. He was a true son of God and wanted to see every human being like-wise. He had the credit for having revolutionised the human thought and turned it into healthy channels, especially through his work. He wanted to see the individual and the society fully developed - physically, morally and spiritually, guided by the light of Truth as well as the forces of love and joy, peace and prosperity. Satyarth Prakash presents a picture of the reconstructed society based on priceless traditions of the Vedic culture harmoniously adjusted to modern conditions and environments.

It is an irony of fate that a large number of world people did not try to assess the life and teachings of Dayanand in their true perspective. The path he has shown may or may not be gainful, but it is sure that it can never be baneful. A man treading on that path cannot lie drifted from enjoying peace and love. He chalked out such a grand scheme of life as may enable a man to constantly go ahead from birth to death smiling, and not weeping and wailing.

The world of Swami Dayanand's golden dreams had no scope for barriers between man and man. He wanted and tried to convert the whole mankind into one family by doing away with the obstacles which divided it on the artificial basis of sex, race, colour, creed and loyalties - local, regional and national. This work of Dayanand had certainly kindled a flame. But it was a flame of all consuming and all purfying fire. Swami Dayanand, the inspired son of God, kindled, the fire not merely for Aryas but for all who look for the redemption of humanity.

The Satyarth Prakash contains sum and substance and the great and essential truths of the Veda, the oldest revealed book in the library of mankind, on the authority of which the author of Satyarth Prakash had placed his unflinching faith and reliance and had based all his teachings. It was he, who had opened the closed portals of the Vedas to the whole mankind.

The work (Satyarth Prakash) which we are presenting to the public is the touch-stone on which truth and untruth are tested It is also an indicator of light and right path to those who may be groping in the dark. They can, by its thorough study, be able to know themselves and God and may make their lives shining shining and successful by having communion with Him.

We crave the indulgence of every man of understanding to make an impartial study of this great treatise. We are sure they will find it most advantageous, free from any discrepancy or anything contrary to the canons of truth and common sense.

To the present day world which stands torn asunder by mutual discord, animosity, hatred, and to mankind which is steeped in ignorance and addicted to the satisfaction of animal appetites and which is facing annihilation like a ship in the ocean turning up and down, we offer Satyarth Prakash as a light-house.

It is wrong to think Rishi Dayanand as a narrow sectarian preaching hatred towards other faiths. His criticism of some religious beliefs and practices is a beautiful instance of his independence of thought and judgement. Freedom of thought is not a thing to be afraid of. It is this that leads to true progress. If Rishi Dayanand has criticised some religious beliefs in the Satyarth Prakash, he has done a right thing. The followers of other religious faiths should not be perturbed over it. It is their duty to think over those points impartially and to reform their views in the light of Rishi's well meant criticism. This will be helpful to them. He was a cosmopolitan. His love was universal. In his generous heart there was equal love for all people whether they were Aryas, Muslims, Jains, Christians or Sanatanists; none was outside the pale of his universal love.

[Source: Above is part of "Publisher's Note" of Light of Truth, English translation of Satyarth Prakash, translated by Sri Durga Prasad and published second edition by Jan Gyan Prakashan, Delhi in 1970. Presented by: Bhavesh Merja]