National Symbols Of India

National Motto

Satyameva Jayate- National Motto of India

An important mantra from ancient Indian scripture Mundaka Upanishad, "Satyameva Jayate" is valued for its relevance in the country. Its adoption as India’s national motto post-independence popularized it further. National emblem of the country has it in its base as written in Devanagari script. All currencies of India as well as national emblem showcase inscription of words "Satyameva Jayate." As an adaptation of the Asoka Capital this emblem symbolizes ancient era for being erected by the 250 BC in the Uttar Pradesh state’s Sarnath close by Varanasi. A famous mantra from the Mundaka Upanishad’s 3.1.6  this motto is known for historic origin which is mentioned here:-

satyameva jayate nānṛtaṁ
satyena panthā vitato devayānaḥ |
yenākramantyṛṣayo hyāptakāmā
yatra tat satyasya paramaṁ nidhānam ||[3]

In Devanāgarī:

सत्यमेव जयते नानृतं
सत्येन पन्था विततो देवयानः |
येनाक्रमन्त्यृषयो ह्याप्तकामा
यत्र तत् सत्यस्य परमं निधानम् ||६||

In English:

Truth alone triumphs; not falsehood.
Through truth the divine path is spread out by which
the sages whose desires have been completely fulfilled,
reach where that supreme treasure of Truth resides.

Popular connotations also include:

• 'Truth stands Invincible'
• 'Truth alone triumphs'
• 'Truth alone conquers, not falsehood'
• 'The true prevails, not the untrue'
• 'Truth alone conquers, not untruth'
• 'Truth Alone Triumphs, not(na) that against(ana) Sacred law(Rta)
• Vaimaye Vellum

Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya popularized this slogan to bring it into national limelight during 1918 at the time he was the president of Indian National Congress for the second term out of the four terms he had served the party.

Czech republic and predecessor Czechoslovakia’s motto "Pravda vítězí" or "Truth Prevails" carries the same theme and sense.