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The just and truthful king Vasu said, "Mother! Demand whatever boon you like. Your boon shall be granted at all costs. I am ready to offer you every thing that I possess." At this the lady said, "Tomorrow Parvata and Narad will come in your court to seek your decision over a controversy. Although Parvata's view point is weak, it supports sin and is a gateway to moral downfall, yet you will have to defend my son Parvata and give your decision in his favor."
Hearing this king Vasu trembled at heart. He was in a great fix. He pondered in his mind, "What should I do now? If I do not keep my word, I will have to suffer great disgrace; and if in order to fulfill my promise I favor Parvata, my fall into the pit of hell is inevitable. If there is a deep well on one side, there is a deep ditch on the other. I fail to decide what to do in such a critical situation." But he opted for hell; so at last he bid farewell to his teacher's wife with a promise to defend her son Parvarta.
The next day Narad and Parvarta appeared in the royal court. Each one of them presented his case before the king giving forceful arguments. They both waited for the king's judgement with a heavy heart. Parvata was somewhat doubtful at heart, but Narad was fully confident that the just king Vasu would certainly deliver his verdict in his favor. But the promise-bound king Vasu delivered his judgement in favor of Parvata. As soon as he declared his judgement in favor of untruth, his throne sank into the earth and there was an uproar all around. Narad burst out, "O wicked king! Why did you prefer to go to hell by favoring untruth? Take side of the truth." But the helpless king remained adamant on his decision and ultimately went to hell after death.
By the above example it becomes obvious that "Truth always conquers in the long run" 'satya maiv jeytai'. Therefore, a living being aspiring for his own spiritual welfare should never favor falsehood, otherwise he has to meet a miserable plight.
In his last sermon before his ideal death i.e. Samadhi Maran His Holiness Shri Shanti Sagar Maharaj, a prince among ascetics laid stress upon the need of truth for a believer in non-violence. By truth he meant the adoption of right perspective and correct apprehension of spiritual values.
The great poet Reidhu has defined the supreme virtue of truth as under:
De dhamhr karanru dos nribarnru ih bhavi skhrhru Sachyu ji vynrulu bhavnri atalu oljyi visasadhru Sachu ji savam thamaham phanru, sachu ji nhiyligreu vihanru
Sachenr ji sohi namruv jammu, sachainr pavtau punr kam Sachnr sal gnr ganr mahanti, sachainr tias saiva vahanti
Par baha yaru bhasahuma bhabu, sachu ji tam chhandhu vigeh gachu Sachu ji Parmapau athi so bhavun bhavtam dalanr iku
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