The Lover of Truth - Chandogya IV 4-9

Once upon a time, Satyakaama Jaabaala said to his mother, "Honourable mother, I wish to become a celibate student.  What is my lineage?"

She said to him: "O my son, I do not know what your lineage is.  I had you in my youth when I was busy working as a serving-maid.  But my name is Jabaalaa and your name is Satyakaama.  So call yourself Satyakaama Jaabaala.

He approached Haridrumata Gautama, and said, "I wish to live as a celibate student with you, worshipful one.  That is why I have come."

He replied, "To what lineage do you belong, good-looking one?"  He said, "Sir, I do not know this as to which lineage I belong.  I asked my mother and she replied, 'I had you in my youth when I was busy working as a serving-maid.  But my name is Jabaalaa and your name is Satyakaama.' Sir, I am Satyakaama Jaabaala."

To him Gautama said, "A non-Brahmin could not speak like this.  Fetch sticks for the sacrifice, O good-looking one.  I shall initiate you, since you did not diverge from truth."  After initiating him, he selected four hundred head of good cattle from among the thin and the weak, and said, "Drive these cattle, good looking one."  As Satyakama drove them, he said to himself, "I shall not return until they become a thousand". 

As in the previous story of Raikwa of the Cart, Satyakaama would be regarded as an unsuitable person. He is the son of a serving-woman (a shudra, the lowest caste), possibly even of a prostitute.  All he has is his desire for truth (satya-kaama).  His acceptance by the teacher makes the point that the love of truth is more important than any lineage.

The story has an affinity with the Princess and the Pea, or with various fairy tales about youngest sons with no inheritance who win the love of a princess, and are later revealed to have royal blood.  The difference of course is that worth is signalled by wisdom and not royalty.

Although Satyakaama is worthy of being a student, he has to undergo a test and gain understanding before he will receive the teaching.

Many years he lived in exile.  Finally, the herd became a thousand, and a bull spoke: "O Satyakaama."  He responded, "Yes, reverend sir." "We have reached one thousand in number, good-looking one.  Lead us to the house of the teacher."

"I wish to tell you," said the bull, "of one of Brahman's four feet." "Please tell me, reverend sir." He said, "The eastern side is one part, the western side is one part, the southern side is one part, the northern side is one part.  O good looking one, surely this is one foot of Brahman, consisting of four parts, and called the Visible."

(Anyone who knows this one foot of Brahman, consisting of four parts, meditates on it as the Visible, becomes famous in this world. He who meditates upon this one foot as the Visible, wins all the visible worlds.)

The bull said, "Fire will tell you of the next foot." 

When the next day dawned, he drove on the herds of cattle.  When they stopped at nightfall, he brought sticks and lit a fire, and sat behind it, facing East.

Fire spoke: "O Satyakaama."  "Yes, reverend sir"  "I wish to tell you," said the fire, "of one of Brahman's four feet." "Please tell me, reverend sir." He said, "Earth is one part, the atmosphere is one part, heaven is one part, ocean is one part.  O good looking one, surely this is one foot of Brahman, consisting of four parts, and called the Limitless."

(Anyone who knows this one foot of Brahman, consisting of four parts, meditates on it as the Limitless, becomes limitless in this world. He who meditates upon this one foot as the Limitless, wins infinite worlds.)

The fire said, "The swan will tell you of the next foot." 

When the next day dawned, he drove on the herds of cattle.  When they stopped at nightfall, he brought sticks and lit a fire, and sat behind it, facing East.

The swan flew to him and spoke: "O Satyakaama."  "Yes, reverend sir"  "I wish to tell you," said the swan, "of one of Brahman's four feet." "Please tell me, reverend sir." He said, "Fire is one part, the sun is one part, the moon is one part, lightning is one part.  O good looking one, surely this is one foot of Brahman, consisting of four parts, and called the Shining."

(Anyone who knows this one foot of Brahman, consisting of four parts, meditates on it as the Shining, shines in this world. He who meditates upon this one foot as the Shining, wins worlds of light.)

The swan said, "The diver-bird will tell you of the next foot." 

When the next day dawned, he drove on the herds of cattle.  When they stopped at nightfall, he brought sticks and lit a fire, and sat behind it, facing East.

The diver-bird flew near and spoke: "O Satyakaama."  "Yes, reverend sir"  "I wish to tell you," said the bird, "of one of Brahman's four feet." "Please tell me, reverend sir." He said, "Life-force is one part, the eye is one part, the ear is one part, the mind is one part.  O good looking one, surely this is one foot of Brahman, consisting of four parts, and called the Indwelling."

(Anyone who knows this one foot of Brahman, consisting of four parts, meditates on it as the Indwelling, he has a home in this world. He who meditates upon this one foot as the Indwelling, wins worlds within.)

Again, this story challenges many of the accepted ideas about knowledge.  Living in exile without a teacher, Satyakaama is taught by the things around him: his cattle, the fire, the birds. 

He reached the teacher's house.  The teacher spoke, "O Satyakaama." "Yes, reverend sir."  "O good-looking one, you shine in truth like a knower of Brahman.  Who taught you?" "Those things that are not men.  But it is you, revered sir, who should teach me to fulfill my desire".

"For I have heard from the great seers such as you that knowledge acquired from a teacher surely becomes the best."

He spoke this teaching to him. And when he had finished, nothing was left to be said; nothing was left to be said.

Next: Satyakaama himself becomes a teacher.