Satyakama - The Seeker of Truth

 

Satyakama: The Seeker of Truth

Chandogya Upanishad, 4.4 – 4.8

In Sanatana Dharma, knowledge seeking, debate and discussions is part of the fabric. We do not get angry when questioned about our practices. The other defining feature of the religion is the acceptance of knowledge from any and all sources. This is not now. A nice story from Chandogya Upanishad depicts this beautifully.

 

A young boy once came to Sage Haridrumata Gautama. He said “Guruji, I want to study under you. I would like to accept me as your student.” Gautama asked him for his family details and gotra. The boy was not aware of these details. He asked his mother but unfortunately, she also did not know. She was a poor woman and was only aware of her name that was Jabala. She had named her son Satyakama. Saying all this, Satyakama said, “Sir, I reveal myself to you as Satyakama Jabala. Is my name.”

 

In those days it was considered a requirement of every Guru to accept students who came for knowledge. Sage Gautama, in keeping with this dharma accepted Satyakama as a student. So saying the boy was initiated into his studies in front of the fire God.

 

As was the practice, the students stayed with the Guru in the Gurukulam and did a lot of other work. This helped the boys to learn life skills along with Vedic education. Satyakama’s Guru, Sage Gautama gave him a few hundred weak cows and said “Go to the forest and graze these cows.” This might be surprising to us. But grazing, cooking, collecting firewood and managing yagna fires were some of the tasks the young students were doing.

 

Satyakama said “Guruji, I shall not return till I multiply these cows to a thousand.” He took the cows to the forest, stayed with them and grazed them. Many years went by. Thanks to the good care and the availability of good food, the cows gave birth to calves and slowly their numbers grew to a thousand.”

 

One day a bull came to Satyakama and said “We are now increased to thousand. Take us back to the Gurukul.” Satyakama was surprised. The bull continued and said “I shall teach you a quarter of who is the Brahman (God). He is Prakashavan or the Radiant. If you meditate on him as the Radiant you become radiant.” The bull told Satyakama that Lord Agni will continue his education.” Satyakama humbly thanked the bull.

 

Satyakama and the cattle started the journey towards the Gurukul. In the night, Satyakama lit a fire as it was a cold night. From the Fire a divine being emerged and started addressing him “Satyakama, you learnt one quarter of what Brahman from the bull. Let me tell you the next quarter. Brahman is also “Anatavan” or Endless. If you meditate on this form, you will find endless bliss.” Blessing Satyavan, the Fire God said that the next portion will be taught by a swan.

 

Satyakama was grateful and did a pranam to the fire God. The Gurukul was far off and the next day, Satyakama and the cattle proceeded towards the Gurukul. Come evening, they rested and Satyakama lit a fire. Suddenly a swan flew towards him and told him “Satya, let me tell you the third quarter of the Brahman. Brahman is called Jyotishman or Effulgent. If you meditate that form of Brahman, you will become effulgent. So now Satyakama had three inputs on the Brahman – Prakashvan (Radiant), Anatavan (Endless) and Jyotishman (Efullgent).

 

The swan then said that a water fowl will give him the next quarter understanding of the Brahman. Then the swan told him that a waterfowl would teach him the last part of the Brahman. The next day, the same thing got repeated. In the evening when the fire was lit, a waterfowl came before him and said “Satyavan, the fourth and last part of the Brahman is Ayatanavan (All supporting). One who meditates that form becomes a supporter for many in this world.

 

Satyakama finally reached the Gurukul. Sage Gautama with his gnana figured that he had already been instructed on the brahman. The Guru asked “You face is shining with thejus of knowledge of the Brahman. How did you learn it?”

 

Satyakama told him about his teachers and requested the Guru to expound the knowledge further. He then requested the Guru to further giving him a detailed knowledge of the Brahman as such a deep knowledge had to be got from the Guru.

 

Pleased with his disciple, Sage Gautama, delved in depth into the Brahman knowledge and gave him a detailed version of the Divine and its many forms. Eventually, Satyakama became a scholar and teacher in his own right.

So next time you think of the Brahman remember the words Prakashavan, Anatavan, Jyotishman and Ayatanavan. Brahman is all these and more.