The Light of Truth: Satyarth Prakash in English

Dear readers! Maharishi Dayanand, the founder of Arya Samaj, has done an indescribable favour to mankind by writing the book named ‘Satyarth Prakash’ presented in your service. Accepting the truth and abandoning the untruth is the main objective of this book, and this is the basic principle of all reforms. Therefore, Maharishi has written in the introduction of this book – “There is no other reason for the progress of mankind except the true preaching.” That true preaching is not found in the man-made non-Arsha Granthas, which can lead to the welfare of human life. The presentation of beneficial, authentic and important subjects in a very simple way is available only in the Arsha Granthas. The benefits of studying the Arsha Granthas and the harms of studying the non-Arsha Granthas mentioned in the third chapter must be paid attention to. The inquisitive person who dives into the Arsha Granthas can certainly make his life successful by obtaining precious pearls. The following is a brief introduction of the unique work of Maharshi, Satyarth Prakash: (1) This book contains the essence of the thoughts propounded in the Vedas by the sages and saints from Brahma to Jaimini Muni. The false meanings of the selfish and obstinate people who had little knowledge had dared to malign the true scriptures of Vedas by interpreting them incorrectly have been refuted and the true meaning has been revealed in this book with irrefutable arguments and evidences. There is not even a trace of any new opinion in this book.

(2) Without studying the true scriptures of Vedas, it is not possible to attain true knowledge. This book acts as a key to understand them. At present, it is very difficult to understand the true meaning of the true scriptures of Vedas without studying this book. Without understanding this completely, even great scholars with great titles remain entangled in many misconceptions.

(3) This book is the only storehouse of knowledge to solve all the worldly and spiritual problems of human life from birth to death.

(4) In the times of the sages before Rishi Dayanand, Sanskrit was widely used and only the true meaning of the Vedas was propagated. All the Arsha Granthas of that time are available only in Sanskrit language. After the Mahabharata, the true meaning of the Vedas disappeared and Sanskrit became very popular. Scholars, under the influence of less knowledge and selfishness, misled the public and the sectarians destroyed many Arsha Granthas and created false Granthas in the name of sages and munis. They made interpolations in their Granthas due to which true science disappeared. Maharishi has revealed that lost science in this book. Maharishi has prepared an unprecedented garland in Aryabhasha by selecting precious pearls in this book so that the common man can know the true beliefs of the scriptures and be saved from the clutches of selfish scholars.

(5) Satyarth Prakash is the main book among the books written by Maharishi Dayanand. It contains the summary of all his books.

(6) This is the only book which calls upon the readers to examine the all-system, universal, eternal beliefs propounded in this book.

(7) Without reading it, no one can understand the views and programs of Arya Rishi properly and cannot recognize the false principles propounded in the teachings of others. Due to which many misconceptions get embedded in the mind and for their removal it is absolutely necessary to study this book many times.

(8) The pledge made in the beginning with ‘Tvameva Pratyaksha Brahma Vadishyami’ etc., according to that the truth has been revealed in the entire book and the pledge has been concluded at the end.

(9) This book has thrown full light on the reason behind the downfall of India, the most prosperous country and the most renowned country in the world, and how it can be uplifted.

(10) In this the difference between Arya Samaj and different sects has been explained in detail at many places and especially in the eleventh chapter.

(11) The reason for the downfall of the human race is the false beliefs of the sectarians which have also been refuted in this book with evidence and logic.

(12) The basic philosophical principles have been explained in such a simple manner that even an ordinary educated person can become a good philosopher after reading it. The one who has not read this book but has read the philosophical principles on the basis of the Navaya Mahakavya Anaarsha books, his false beliefs can be refuted and the true beliefs can be praised by the one who studies this book.

(13) Whatever doubts one has about the opinions of the sage before reading this book, they all get completely destroyed after reading this book because the solution to all those doubts is present in it.

(14) The political parties formed today are themselves sects because they are full of bias. There is only a difference of words between the sectarians and them, but in principle they are not different. Communalism has increased a lot due to them. This book gives a true view of the nature of communalism and its harms. The book also gives the means to completely eradicate communalism, but it is sad that the parties (sects) are calling the completely true views of the unbiased, welfare-oriented sages communal and are propagating atheism by propagating the ignorant and corrupt meaning of the word sect and are giving effect to the proverb ‘the thief punishes the police’.