మందుకు పథ్యం మాటకు సత్యం

manduku pathyam mataku satyam

Translation

Diet for medicine, truth for speech

Meaning

Just as a medicine is only effective when a strict diet (pathyam) is followed, speech only gains value and effectiveness when it is truthful. It emphasizes that integrity is as essential to character as discipline is to health.

Related Phrases

Diet for medicine, truth for words

Just as a specific diet (pathyam) is essential for medicine to work effectively, truthfulness is the essential quality that gives value and weight to one's words. It emphasizes that without integrity, speech loses its purpose.

Dietary discipline should not be spoiled, truth should not be forsaken.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of discipline and integrity in one's life. It suggests that just as maintaining a strict diet is essential for physical health, adhering to the truth is essential for moral health. It is used to advise someone to remain committed to their principles and health habits regardless of temptations.

Dietary discipline should not be spoiled, truth should not be failed.

This proverb emphasizes the importance of discipline in health and integrity in character. It suggests that just as one must strictly follow a prescribed diet (Pathyam) for physical recovery, one must strictly adhere to the truth for moral well-being. Both are essential for a healthy life.

The charioteership of Shalya

This expression is used to describe a person who provides demoralizing advice or works to discourage their own team from within. In the Mahabharata, Shalya served as Karna's charioteer but used the opportunity to constantly insult and demotivate him to aid the Pandavas. It represents psychological sabotage or negative guidance.

Diet for medicine, truth for words

This expression emphasizes that just as dietary restrictions (pathyam) are essential for medicine to be effective, honesty and truthfulness are essential for words to have value and credibility. It is used to highlight the importance of integrity in communication.

Don't we know our own god's truth?

This expression is used when someone tries to explain or hide facts about a person or situation that you already know very well. It highlights that one is already intimately familiar with the reality or the flaws of the subject in question, making external explanations unnecessary.

Whether you deviate from the truth or deviate from a prescribed diet, troubles are inevitable.

This proverb highlights the importance of integrity and discipline. It suggests that just as ignoring medical dietary restrictions leads to physical suffering, abandoning truth and honesty leads to moral and social consequences. In both cases, the person must face the resulting hardships.

Like saying 'I will take the medicine, you follow the dietary restrictions'

This proverb is used to describe a situation where one person expects another to bear the burden or follow the rules for a benefit they themselves seek. It highlights the absurdity of expecting results without personal effort or sacrifice, or shifting one's responsibilities onto others.

Truth is victory, falsehood is fear

This expression emphasizes that truth always triumphs in the end, providing strength and confidence, whereas lies lead to constant anxiety and the fear of being caught. It is used to encourage honesty as a path to a fearless life.

Like the driving of Śalya. Śalya, king of Madra having undertaken to drive the chariot of Karna continually endeavoured to dishearten him. (See Karna Parva of the Mahâbhârata). A faithless ally.

Derived from the Mahabharata, this expression refers to providing discouraging or demoralizing advice instead of support. It is used to describe a situation where someone who is supposed to help actually undermines your confidence through constant criticism or negative remarks.