The Story of Naciketas
This story is found in the Kathopanisad.
Once a person called Vajasravas performed a huge sacrifice to acquire great prosperity, and as is the custom in the end, he gifted
away all his possessions including his granary and cows to the priest who performed the sacrifice. But the cows which he so liberally gifted were all old and had gone dry. they could no longer calve or yield milk. Seeing this Naciketas, the young son of Vajasravas, thought it sinful for his father to donate useless cows; his father may not be considered to have conducted the sacrifice in the proper manner. He wanted to some how set right this defect even by giving himself up to any one who wanted him. So he aproached his father and said Sir, to whom are you giving me? the father kept silent, the boy persisted and questioned his father again. In sheer irritation, the father snapped I will give you to Yama. Naciketa sensed that his father was upset with him. He also wondered what use he could be to a great person like Yama. However to keep up his father's wprd he proceeded to the abode of Yama. there he found Yama had gone out and was to return only after three days. Naciketas lay at the door of Yama's residence without food or water. seeing Naciketas in that condition. Yama was moved, he asked Naciketas to ask for three boons from him. As the first boon Naciketas asked that his father should have peace of mind and should not be upset with him. Yama granted this boon. for the second boon Naciketas prayed for knowledge about the sacrifice which will bestow immortality and the pleasure enjoyed by the celestials. Yama granted this too. As the third boon. Naciketas asked for supreme knowledge about the self.
Yama refused to grant this boon and said that he will grant great imperishable wealth to naciketas. But the boy declined this wealth saying that it is of no use to him. He insisted on receiveing the supreme knowledge. seeing the tenacity of purpose of Naciketas, Yama was pleased and taught him the secret knowledge with great joy in his heart. Yama also blessed Naciketas thus: "There are few indeed who seek to know about the soul and the supreme person. It is also rare that a Preceptor can impart this knowledge. Even if one finds such a preceptor, where are the disciples who can grasp this knowledge properly? Only he who has great unlimited devotion towards the preceptor will comprehend this knowledge. How I wish I get a disciple like you"
The Story of satyakama Jabali.
This episode is found in the Chandogya Upanishad.
Once a boy called Satyakama, son of Jabali went to study under sage Haridrumata. The sage handed over the custody of four hundred cows to Satyakama and asked him to take them deep into the forest to gaze and not to return till they became a thousand cows. The boy obeyed the preceptor and went to the forest. Taking pity on the boy who was made to tend to the cows when he should be studying, a bull, the fire, a swan and a water bird taught Satyakama some sections of the Vedas. several years later the herd became a thousand strong. Satyakama brought the cattle before his master and awaited his further instruction. Sage Haridrumata saw the radiance on the face of Satyakama and asked him who had taught him the vedas, as a result of which his face was shining. Satyakama narrated all that had happened and prostrated before the sage saying, "Only that knowledge is sound which is learnt from the preceptor, So please teach me." (Acaryaddhaiva vidya vidita sadhistham prapat) Then the sage instructe the sixteen part Brahmavidya to Satyakama. This episode indicates that attachment and devotion to the preceptor is essential to acquire knowledge.
The story of Upakosala:
this story is also found in the Chandogya Upanishad.
Once a lad called Upakosala sought instruction on the Brahmavidya from sage Satyakama. For twelve long years, Upakosala stayed in the residence of the master, attending to all household duties and tending the sacrificial fire. However, Satyakama did not begin teaching Upakosala. whereas he taught other disciples. The Preceptor then went on a long pilgrimage. Upakosala became dejected but did not say anything. He went about doing his daily duties. The sacrificial fires, which he was dilligently tending, took pity on him and taught him a part of the Brahmavidya. They told him to learn the remaining from the preceptor. when satyakama returned after some years, Upakosala told him what had happened. he prayed that he may be taught the complete Brahmavidya. (bravllu me bhagavan iti tasmai hovaca) satyakama then taught him fully.
The story of Sanjaya.
This is from the Mahabharata.
Sanjaya was a minister under the Kaurava king Dhratarastra. remaining in the palace itself, Sanjaya was able to see with his mental eye the entire battle between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, including the sacred instruction by Lord Krsna to Arjuna. Sanjaya tells the King "I have great devotion towards the supreme Lord. Equal devotion i have towards my preceptor sage Vyasa. My mind is pure. It is only due to the grace of my preceptor that i was able to hear the teachings of Lord Krsna. (suddha bhavam gato bhaktya sastrad vedmi Janardanam).
Moral: Devotion to preceptor should be equal to that of the devotion to the Lord. or else they will not be able to understand the teachings at all. the learning capacity and the grasping power of the disciple entirely depends on this devotion.
ONE MORE.
The story of Janasruti and Raikva.
Once there was a pious and noble king called Janasruti ruling his kingdom well. One night he heard two celestial beings in the form of swans in the sky, conversing about the knowledge of a sage called Raikva who was living in his kingdom. Keen to meet the sage, the king wandered to several places and ultimately found the sage lying under a cart and scratching his body which was full of sores. The King sought to become his disciple and offered him several cattle and much wealth. the sage being unmoved refused to teach the King. after a while the King again approached the sage and prayed to be taught. this time he offered him more wealth and also his daughter in marriage. moved by the king's perseverance, devotion and eagerness to learn the sage taught him the truths.
This episode is also from Chandogya Upanishad.
This story is found in the Kathopanisad.
Once a person called Vajasravas performed a huge sacrifice to acquire great prosperity, and as is the custom in the end, he gifted
away all his possessions including his granary and cows to the priest who performed the sacrifice. But the cows which he so liberally gifted were all old and had gone dry. they could no longer calve or yield milk. Seeing this Naciketas, the young son of Vajasravas, thought it sinful for his father to donate useless cows; his father may not be considered to have conducted the sacrifice in the proper manner. He wanted to some how set right this defect even by giving himself up to any one who wanted him. So he aproached his father and said Sir, to whom are you giving me? the father kept silent, the boy persisted and questioned his father again. In sheer irritation, the father snapped I will give you to Yama. Naciketa sensed that his father was upset with him. He also wondered what use he could be to a great person like Yama. However to keep up his father's wprd he proceeded to the abode of Yama. there he found Yama had gone out and was to return only after three days. Naciketas lay at the door of Yama's residence without food or water. seeing Naciketas in that condition. Yama was moved, he asked Naciketas to ask for three boons from him. As the first boon Naciketas asked that his father should have peace of mind and should not be upset with him. Yama granted this boon. for the second boon Naciketas prayed for knowledge about the sacrifice which will bestow immortality and the pleasure enjoyed by the celestials. Yama granted this too. As the third boon. Naciketas asked for supreme knowledge about the self.
Yama refused to grant this boon and said that he will grant great imperishable wealth to naciketas. But the boy declined this wealth saying that it is of no use to him. He insisted on receiveing the supreme knowledge. seeing the tenacity of purpose of Naciketas, Yama was pleased and taught him the secret knowledge with great joy in his heart. Yama also blessed Naciketas thus: "There are few indeed who seek to know about the soul and the supreme person. It is also rare that a Preceptor can impart this knowledge. Even if one finds such a preceptor, where are the disciples who can grasp this knowledge properly? Only he who has great unlimited devotion towards the preceptor will comprehend this knowledge. How I wish I get a disciple like you"
The Story of satyakama Jabali.
This episode is found in the Chandogya Upanishad.
Once a boy called Satyakama, son of Jabali went to study under sage Haridrumata. The sage handed over the custody of four hundred cows to Satyakama and asked him to take them deep into the forest to gaze and not to return till they became a thousand cows. The boy obeyed the preceptor and went to the forest. Taking pity on the boy who was made to tend to the cows when he should be studying, a bull, the fire, a swan and a water bird taught Satyakama some sections of the Vedas. several years later the herd became a thousand strong. Satyakama brought the cattle before his master and awaited his further instruction. Sage Haridrumata saw the radiance on the face of Satyakama and asked him who had taught him the vedas, as a result of which his face was shining. Satyakama narrated all that had happened and prostrated before the sage saying, "Only that knowledge is sound which is learnt from the preceptor, So please teach me." (Acaryaddhaiva vidya vidita sadhistham prapat) Then the sage instructe the sixteen part Brahmavidya to Satyakama. This episode indicates that attachment and devotion to the preceptor is essential to acquire knowledge.
The story of Upakosala:
this story is also found in the Chandogya Upanishad.
Once a lad called Upakosala sought instruction on the Brahmavidya from sage Satyakama. For twelve long years, Upakosala stayed in the residence of the master, attending to all household duties and tending the sacrificial fire. However, Satyakama did not begin teaching Upakosala. whereas he taught other disciples. The Preceptor then went on a long pilgrimage. Upakosala became dejected but did not say anything. He went about doing his daily duties. The sacrificial fires, which he was dilligently tending, took pity on him and taught him a part of the Brahmavidya. They told him to learn the remaining from the preceptor. when satyakama returned after some years, Upakosala told him what had happened. he prayed that he may be taught the complete Brahmavidya. (bravllu me bhagavan iti tasmai hovaca) satyakama then taught him fully.
The story of Sanjaya.
This is from the Mahabharata.
Sanjaya was a minister under the Kaurava king Dhratarastra. remaining in the palace itself, Sanjaya was able to see with his mental eye the entire battle between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, including the sacred instruction by Lord Krsna to Arjuna. Sanjaya tells the King "I have great devotion towards the supreme Lord. Equal devotion i have towards my preceptor sage Vyasa. My mind is pure. It is only due to the grace of my preceptor that i was able to hear the teachings of Lord Krsna. (suddha bhavam gato bhaktya sastrad vedmi Janardanam).
Moral: Devotion to preceptor should be equal to that of the devotion to the Lord. or else they will not be able to understand the teachings at all. the learning capacity and the grasping power of the disciple entirely depends on this devotion.
ONE MORE.
The story of Janasruti and Raikva.
Once there was a pious and noble king called Janasruti ruling his kingdom well. One night he heard two celestial beings in the form of swans in the sky, conversing about the knowledge of a sage called Raikva who was living in his kingdom. Keen to meet the sage, the king wandered to several places and ultimately found the sage lying under a cart and scratching his body which was full of sores. The King sought to become his disciple and offered him several cattle and much wealth. the sage being unmoved refused to teach the King. after a while the King again approached the sage and prayed to be taught. this time he offered him more wealth and also his daughter in marriage. moved by the king's perseverance, devotion and eagerness to learn the sage taught him the truths.
This episode is also from Chandogya Upanishad.
