Satyakama Jabala: Transformation Through Guru’s Grace

There is a lot of information available all around us – from books, the Internet, and so on. However, true knowledge can be attained only through a Guru’s grace. He can help you achieve high goals, beyond what you can imagine.

A young boy arrived at the ashrama of Sage Haridrumata Gautama, seeking to stay at his hermitage and learn under his tutelage. When asked who he was, he replied: “Jabala is my mother, and she says she does not know who my father is. So, I go by the name of Satyakama Jabala.”

The benevolent rishi was pleased. It did not matter to him that the boy did not know his gotra or lineage. His truthfulness and quest for knowledge qualified him as a brahmin to the rishi. “Only a true brahmin can speak the truth thus,” he said, and initiated the boy into the life of a brahmacharin. 

Satyakama, the young seeker, finds his Guru
Image courtesy: Mysticadii.com

Fostering patience in the disciple

Soon, the sage gave the boy 400 feeble cows, and bade him to take them to the forest. “Tend to them, and come back only when they have multiplied into a 1000,” he instructed his sishya. Satyakama resolved to do so, and left to the forest with his 400 cows. 

He tended to them carefully, never swerving from his duty. Many years passed. One day, the leader of the herd came to Satyakama and said, “Dear boy, we have now become a thousand. Come, let us return to the sage’s ashram.” 

The Brahman begins to reveal itself to Satyakama

Just as they were about to start on their journey, the bull volunteered to teach Satyakama one foot of the Brahman.

Some commentators explain that Vayu, the presiding deity of the quarters (the directions), entered the body of the bull and taught Satyakama, pleased by his dedication to his guru. “East, West, North and South, each is one part of the Brahman. These four parts together form one foot of the Brahman, called Prakashavan, the Shining or Radiant. A person who meditates upon this foot becomes famous and radiant in his life. Agni will teach you about another foot of the Brahman,” said the bull.

The next day, Satyakama continued his journey with the cows, towards his guru’s abode. At dusk, he herded the cows safely into a pen, lit a holy fire, sat near it, and started meditating, wondering what Agni was going to teach him. “Hear, oh Satyakama! Let me tell you about another foot of the Brahman,” said Agni. “The earth, mid-region, heaven and ocean, each is one part of the Brahman. Together, these four parts make up a foot of Brahman, known as Anantavan, the Unlimited. He who understands and worships this foot, will live long and attain long-lasting worlds after his death. A swan will tell you about another foot.”

Next morning, Satyakama once again started walking with the cows, towards his guru’s ashram. At dusk, he confined the cows safely, lit a fire and sat wondering what the swan would say. A luminous swan, which some commentators say was a manifestation of Aditya, the Sun God, flew up to Satyakama, and spoke thus: “Listen, oh humble one, fire, the sun, the moon, and lightning together comprise a foot of the Brahman, named Jyotishman, the Effulgent. He who meditates upon this foot of the Brahman becomes wise and effulgent. A cormorant (water bird) will explain about the fourth and last foot of the Brahman.”

At the end of the next day’s journey, Satyakama lit a fire and sat meditating near it. A cormorant approached him, and explained: “Praṇa (vital force), the eyes, ears and mind together comprise a foot of the Brahman named as Ayatanavan, the All-supporting. He who meditates on this aspect of the Brahman becomes someone who supports and shelters others.”

The sishya now seeks the ultimate knowledge - from his guru

When Satyakama reached his destination the next day, Sage Haridrumata Gautama was happy to behold his sishya. “Dear one, you shine like one who has known Brahman. Who taught you?” How did the guru know? According to Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya’s commentary, a person who has known the Brahman is happy and cheerful, with a smile on his face all the time. His mind is always under control, as are his sense organs. He is also free from desires and therefore from worries. Since Satyakama exuded such a radiance, the guru immediately understood.

Satyakama recounted his experiences, and added, “Now, I humbly request you teach me about the Brahman, because I know that the knowledge acquired from a guru is the most reliable and effective one.” Thereafter, the rishi elaborated on all that Satyakama had learnt so far, and taught him everything about the Brahman, leaving out nothing. By his guru’s grace, Satyakama, a nondescript person with no great lineage to speak of, grew to become a learned sage and a revered teacher.

Here is a shloka that reminds us of the importance of a guru…

गुरौ न प्राप्यते यत्तन्नान्यत्रापि हि लभ्यते।

गुरुप्रसादात् सर्वं तु प्राप्नोत्येव न संशयः॥

gurau na prāpyate yattannānyatrāpi hi labhyate|

guruprasādāt sarvaṁ tu prāpnotyeva na saṁśayaḥ||

Whatever is not obtained from the guru, cannot be obtained from elsewhere. With the grace of the guru, one indeed gets everything.

 

Story reference: Chandogya Upanishad 4.4 - 4.8

By Janani G. Vikram

gjanani@gmail.com