satya

(Sanskrit: ; IAST: ) is a Sanskrit word loosely translated as truth or essence. It also refers to a virtue in Indian religions, referring to being truthful in one's thoughts, speech and action. In Yoga, satya is one of five yamas, the virtuous restraint from falsehood and distortion of reality in one's expressions and actions. Etymology and meaning In the Vedas and later sutras, the meaning of the word evolves into an ethical concept about truthfulness and an important virtue. It means being true and consistent with reality in one's thought, speech, and action. has cognates in a number of diverse Indo-European languages, including the word "sooth" and "sin" in English, "" ("") in Russian, "" (truthful) in Danish, "" in Swedish, and "" in Avestan, the liturgical language of Zoroastrianism. is the root of many Sanskrit words and concepts such as ("pure, truthful") and ("truth"). The Sanskrit root has several meanings or translations: "Absolute truth" "Reality "Brahman" (not to be confused with Brahmin) "unchangeable" "that which has no distortion" "that which is beyond distinctions of time, space, and person" "that which pervades the universe in all its constancy"