Satyameva Jayate (Truth Alone Triumphs) — Word-by-Word Meaning
सत्यमेव जयते
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
सत्यम्
satyam
Truth
एव
eva
Alone, only
जयते
jayate
Triumphs, prevails, is victorious
न अनृतम्
na anṛtam
Not falsehood (untruth does not prevail)
सत्येन
satyena
By truth, through truth
पन्थाः विततः
panthāḥ vitataḥ
The path is laid out, spread open
देवयानः
devayānaḥ
The path of the gods (the bright path leading to the divine, to liberation)
येन
yena
By which (path)
आक्रमन्ति
ākramanti
They ascend, travel upward, advance
ऋषयः
ṛṣayaḥ
The sages, seers
आप्तकामाः
āptakāmāḥ
Those whose desires are fulfilled (the fully contented, free of craving)
यत्र
yatra
Where
तत् सत्यस्य परमं निधानम्
tat satyasya paramaṁ nidhānam
That supreme treasure/abode of Truth (Brahman, the goal)
Complete Translation
Truth alone triumphs, not falsehood. By truth is laid out the path of the gods (devayana), by which the sages whose desires are fulfilled ascend to where that supreme treasure of Truth abides.
Origin & History
Source: Mundaka Upanishad, Verse 3.1.6
Author: Traditional (Upanishadic)
Period: Vedic / Upanishadic
The third Mundaka of the Mundaka Upanishad turns to the realization of the Self and the means to attain it. In this section comes the famous verse, 'Satyam eva jayate nanritam — truth alone triumphs, not falsehood,' declaring that the very path to the divine (devayana) is laid out by truth, and that sages who are free of craving travel it to the supreme abode where Truth, that is Brahman, abides. In 1947 the opening words 'Satyameva Jayate' were adopted as the national motto of India and inscribed in the State Emblem beneath the lions of Ashoka's Sarnath capital.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Satyameva Jayate mean?▼
Satyameva Jayate means 'Truth alone triumphs'. The full verse adds that not falsehood but truth prevails, and that the divine path of the gods is laid out by truth, leading sages to the supreme abode of Truth, Brahman.
Where does Satyameva Jayate come from?▼
It is from the Mundaka Upanishad (3.1.6), which belongs to the Atharva Veda. It was adopted as the national motto of India and appears beneath the Lion Capital of Ashoka in the State Emblem.
What is the 'devayana' mentioned in the verse?▼
Devayana means 'the path of the gods' — the bright, upward path that leads the soul toward liberation and union with Brahman. The verse says this path is paved by truth and is travelled by sages who have fulfilled all desires.
Is Satyameva Jayate a religious or a national saying?▼
It is both. Originally a sacred verse of the Mundaka Upanishad about truth as the road to the Supreme, it was chosen as independent India's national motto, expressing the timeless principle that truth ultimately prevails.
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