In plain words
Listening, singing the glory of Viṣṇu, remembering Him, serving His feet, bowing, worship, servitude, friendship, offering of the self.
This servitude is most sacred. We must make our life worthwhile in this spirit of service. A man who is human in shape alone can bring the world no happiness at all. We must become human beings in practice and in reflection.
Today in our organisations we are spreading the words Satya, Dharma, Śānti, Prema and Ahiṃsā. We are displaying them. But we are not practising them. By display we cannot develop our Praśānti. Satya must be seen. For the sacred scripture of Bhārata, the chief root is Satya and Dharma. It gave first place to these two: “Speak Satya, practise Dharma.” So if we cannot conduct this Satya and Dharma along the right path, humanness itself becomes meaningless. We must make our life worthwhile with the vow of Satya.
This Satya has two forms. One is called ṛtam, the second satyam. Ṛtam is the Satya of the mind. This Satya is the worldly Satya of speech. If we are to develop these human values, the very first among the eight limbs of yoga is yama. Yama, niyama, āsana, prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna, samādhi: among these eight limbs, yama is the most important. What is yama? Ahiṃsā is the first. The second is Satya. The third is asteya. The fourth is brahmacarya. Asaṅga is the very last.
What is Ahiṃsā? It is not only that we do not harm a living being. We must not harm anyone with the body, the mind or speech either. So Ahiṃsā is what is practised with purity of thought, word and deed. Then Satya: Satya is that which holds good in all three times. This Satya must never be forgotten.