The story of Satyakama Jabala in chapter four of Chandogya Upanishad is a classical example of the intellectual catholicity of our ancient sages transcending the barriers of caste, community, religion and family! One becomes a brahmin not because of his family and parentage! The first and foremost quality is honesty and truthfulness!
Satyakam was the son of a woman named Jabal. He had a strong wish to study
and so he left home in search of a guru. He went to the ashram of sage Gautam
and requested him to make him his pupil. Gautam questioned him, “Before I make
you my pupil, I need to know about your family.” This puzzled Satyakam, as he had
no idea about his family except his mother. But to join the ashram he would not
lie. He told the sage that he would ask his mother. So he went to Jabal.
His mother told him, “Go to the sage and tell him ‘I am the son of Jabal and
my name is Satyakam Jabali‛.” Satyakam went to Gautam and told him what he
knew. The sage was pleased with his love for truth, honesty and accepted him as
his pupil.
Sage Gautam wanted to test Satyakam‛s patience and his desire to learn.
One day he told Satyakam, “Satyakam! take the herd of 400 weak and ill cows
of the ashram, nurture them well and return back whey they grew to 1000. Upon
your return, I shall start your education.” Satyakam knew that sage Gautam was
testing his patience. Without uttering a single word he left with the cows. He
took them to the forest and looked after them with loving care.
Satyakam built an ashram for
himself in the forest and nurtured cows
with full dedication. He also followed
all the rules and duties of brahmachari.
Years went by. The number of cows
increased to 1000. Each and every cow
was strong and healthy. Satyakam had
fulfilled sage Gautam‛s wish. It was a time
for Satyakam to return back to ashram
and start education.
All the gods and deities were happy with Satyakam‛s obedience and
dedication to his guru. On his way back to Ashram, Satyakam stopped at one
place to take a night-halt and lighted a fire to worm himself. During that night, he
was blessed with the sacred knowledge of Vedas and Shastras by Agni (fire). On
the following evening, Satyakam stayed near a lake alongwith cows where he was
blessed and enlightened by a swan. Similarly, he was also enlightened by a bull and
a waterfowl.
Now enlightened Satyakam returned back to the sage Gautam‛s ashram with
all 1000 cows. Sage Gautam saw the glow of enlightenment on his face. He was
surprised. He was also very happy that Satyakam had looked after the cows very
well. He asked Satyakam, “Child! your face shines like a scholar. Who taught you?”
Satyakam told him about his four teachers and what they taught him.
After settling down, Satyakam respectfully requested sage Gautam,
“Teacher! According to your wish, I have come back with 1000 cows. Now, please
teach me.” Gautam replied, “Child! I have nothing to teach what you don‛t know.
You are already enlightened by your four teachers. In fact, now you are more
knowledgeable than me. I bless you!!”
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