Ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti
Topic: The Vedic Age · NCERT: Class 6, Ch 7 "India's Cultural Roots"
Meaning
Ekam sat viprā bahudhā vadanti is a line from the Ṛigveda. It means "The Existent is one, but sages give it many names." Here, 'the Existent' (sat) is the one supreme reality. The line shows that early seers saw the many Vedic gods as different names for one reality. It explains why there was no rigid ranking among the Vedic gods: different gods were praised as supreme in different hymns. This idea of oneness was later developed more fully in the Upaniṣhads.
Example
The line comes from a hymn in Book 1 of the Ṛigveda (1.164.46). It says that the one reality is called Indra, Mitra, Varuṇa and Agni. These are different names for one truth.
Don't confuse with
- Sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ: a prayer meaning "May all creatures be happy." It expresses a wish for the welfare of all beings. Ekam sat is a statement that the supreme reality is one.