YOGA AND TOTAL HEALTH • June 2017^31Upanishads are considered to be the highest form of knowledge within which lie the
key to the ultimate truth. The Sanskrit term ‘Upanishad’ is derived from three syllables:
‘Upa’ meaning near, ‘Ni’ meaning down and ‘Shad’ means to sit. In brief, it means
sitting down near (a teacher). In the ancient times the secret knowledge of the highest
truth was imparted by the Guru (a spiritual teacher) only to a few deserving disciples
who were conditioned enough to absorb the teachings, by making them sit near him.
Satyakama, a young cowherd was very curious about life and God. When he was
12 years old, he wanted to go and live in a Gurukul (a Vedic school where disciples live
in proximity to the Guru for the purpose of spiritual learning) and gain knowledge
at the feet of a Guru. But, for that he needed to know his Gotra (lineage) and the
name of his father. So he went to his mother, and while expressing his deep desire,
he asked her for the relevant information.
His mother replied, “My dear son, when I was young I was very poor, but very
beautiful. I served in many houses and many men have used my body. Thus, I do not
know who your father is and what your Gotra is. So, when you go to meet the Guru
at the Gurukul, tell him the truth in the same way that I have told you. Also tell him
that your name is ‘Satyakama’ and that your mother’s name is ‘Jabala’, so that you
can be called Satyakama Jabala.”
So, when Satyakama went to the ancient seer and expressed his desire to learn
the highest truth and also told him the reality of his birth, exactly as his mother
had said, he became a laughing stock amongst the various disciples present there,
which also included princes and rich people’s sons. But the old master said, “What
matters is that you are a sincere, genuine and courageous seeker, who is not afraid
of speaking the truth without feeling embarrassed. Therefore, I accept you as my
disciple and shall initiate you into the highest wisdom.”
Satyakama then lived for some years at the
Gurukul, and under the instructions of his
Guru, and through direct experiences
gained in the depths of meditation,
he ultimately experienced the
Highest Truth.
This story illustrates that
anyone can seek the Truth.
Truth is universal and is not
bound by family, caste, creed or
religion. ‘Truthfulness’ has to be the
foundation of the path and should exist at
each step to reach the Ultimate.
A Bouquet of Scriptural Tales
Satyakama Jabala (Chandogya Upanishad)