INTRODUCTION ‘Satyarth Prakash’ (Light of Truth) is the Magnum opus of Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the illustrious founder of the Arya Samaj. It occupies a prominent place in the classical Religious and Philosophical literature of the world. It is regarded as the Bible of the Arya Samaj and is as immortal as the truth is. It is in fact the beacon light leading people from darkness to light, irrationality to rationality, irreligion to religion, and nescience to science. It embodies the teachings of Swami Dayananda Saraswati on all matters – religious, social, educational, political and moral, also his beliefs and disbeliefs and the way of life as envisage by the Vedas and the Vedic culture, which prevailed throughout the whole World about 5000 years back, when enlightenment, peace and prosperity was at the Zenith of its glory. It presents a charter of life at once sublime and noble. It contains principles and rules of conduct to all. In short it makes people mould and better their lives on the lines which were chalked out by the Vedas and the pattern laid down by what is the best in ancient Vedic heritage, whose living symbol was the Swami himself. Author’s comments on the tenets and working of various religious denominations were made in good faith and were not motivated, as the author has envisaged, for injuring the susceptibilities of their adherents. He meant to bring forth truth to light and prevent perpetration of ‘Adharma’ (unrighteousness) in the name of ‘Dharma’ (righteousness). In fact it gave the incentive specially to the divines of those faiths to revise their teachings and give them a rational tone. The object of the Maharshi in writing this volume, to quote his own words, is as under:- ”……there is not the remotest idea to hurt the feelings of any person either directly or indirectly; but on the contrary , the book proposes that men should distinguish truth from falsehood. Thus alone can the human race steadily advance on the path of happiness, since none but the preaching of truth is the cause of the improvement of the human family.” It is widely read by the people living in India and overseas. This treatise was written in Hindi so as to enable both classes and the masses to be benefitted by it and ahs been availed by crores of people. It has been translated in all the principal regional languages of India as well as in English, French, German, Chinese and Burmese. The present is the new edition of the English Translation rendered by the late Shri Dr. Chrianjiva Gharadwaya. It enjoys greater popularity and has already run into a number of editions. The Sabha has brought it out to meet a great and persistent demand as a present on the sacred occasion of Arya Samaj Foundation Centenary which is being celebrated all over the world this year under the Sabha’s aegis. Our thanks are due to Dr. Satyakam Bharadwaja (son of the learned Translator) and his family, who have give cooperation in the publication of this volume and also to Shri Pandit Narendra, the Convener of the Sarvadeshik Arya Samaj Foundation Centenary Committee for his valuable assistance in making this edition attractive and worthwhile in all respects. We very much appreciate the cooperation of Bharat Mudranalaya and its partner, Shri Bharat Bhushan, Chairman, Special Zonal Committee (Shahdara), Municipal Corporation, Delhi for the speedy and nice printing. Omprakash Tyagi, M.P., Secretary, Sarvadeshik Arya Printinidhi Sabha, Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Bhawan, Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi – 110001, India Dated 02-04-1975