Only one.

 "एकं सद् विप्रा बहुधा वदन्ति" Truth Is One; the Wise Describe It in Many Ways 

Among the most profound declarations of the Rig Veda is this timeless verse:

एकं सद् विप्रा बहुधा वदन्ति

Ekam sad viprā bahudhā vadanti

"Truth is One; the wise describe it in many ways."

(Rig Veda 1.164.46)

These few words carry an ocean of wisdom.

The Vedic seers did not say that there are many truths. They declared that Truth is One. What differs is not the Truth itself, but the language, symbols, experiences, and perspectives through which human beings attempt to understand and express it.

Consider the sun. There is only one sun, yet it is called Surya, Sun, Soleil, Sol, and by countless other names across the world. The names differ, but the sun remains unchanged.

So it is with Truth.

A scientist discovers it through observation and experiment. A philosopher approaches it through reason. A poet experiences it through beauty. A saint realizes it through devotion and meditation. Their expressions may vary, but all are striving toward the same ultimate reality.

This verse also teaches humility.

No individual, no community, and no civilization can claim to have exhausted the infinite. The wise recognize that every genuine search for truth adds another ray to the light without diminishing the light already shining.

Nature itself reflects this principle.

Many rivers arise from different mountains. Some flow gently, others rush through rocky valleys. Some are long, others short. Yet they all ultimately seek the ocean. The rivers differ; the destination is one.

Human understanding follows a similar journey.

The Bhagavad Gita beautifully complements this Vedic insight. Lord Krishna declares that however people approach Him, He responds to them in that very manner. The Divine is not confined by human boundaries; it is human understanding that gradually expands toward the Divine.

At the same time, this mantra is not an invitation to accept every idea uncritically. The Rig Veda consistently honours viveka—discernment. The wise listen with openness, examine with reason, test through experience, and accept what is true and ennobling.

In today's interconnected world, people encounter countless cultures, philosophies, and beliefs. This ancient mantra offers a timeless guide: remain firm in your own convictions, yet humble enough to appreciate wisdom wherever it appears. Respectful dialogue enriches understanding; arrogance impoverishes it.

Truth does not become smaller because another person has glimpsed it from a different angle. Like a magnificent mountain, it reveals different faces to those who approach from different paths, while remaining the same mountain.

Perhaps that is why the Rig Veda speaks of viprāḥ—the wise. Wisdom is not merely possessing knowledge; it is recognizing that the Infinite can never be fully contained in finite words.

The more we grow in wisdom, the less eager we are to argue and the more willing we are to understand.

"Ekam sad viprā bahudhā vadanti."

Truth is One.

May we seek it sincerely, express it humbly, and honour it wherever its light shines.