Long long ago during Upanishadic times there was a sage by name Haridruma Gautama. He had a good number of disciples. He used to hold the lessons for them early in the morning.
During those days the lessons were few. The lessons used to take place in the form of free conversation with the disciples. The lessons were meant to create insatiable desire in the minds of the disciples. The disciples were then relinquished to the company of nature. Real knowledge used to emanate from the nature only. The disciples were expected to absorb the currents of knowledge of their own.
Sage Gautama observed that a boy aged seven is daily standing outside the tuition hall and he is hearing the discourses most attentively for days together.
Out of curiosity the sage Gautama called the boy inside. The boy prostrated before Gautama. The boy then said courteously, ?Sir, will you allow me to attend the tuition class? I am immensely interested in obtaining the knowledge.?
Sage Gautama thought for a while. He then asked the boy what his name was. The boy replied that his name was Satyakama Jabal.
?Who is your father? To which gotra do you belong?? asked Gautama.
?The name of my mother is Jabaal. I don'tknow anything about my father,? said Satyakama.
?Alright, get this information from your mother and report me back,? said Gautama.
Satyakama obtained the details from his mother and returned to Gautama.
?Sir, my mother said I am a posthumous child and she did not know the gotra and varna of my father,? said Satyakama.
?Both you and your mother are reporting the truth and the truth. Those who utter the whole truth are Brahmins. So I consider you a Brahmin. You may join the tuition class from tomorrow,? said sage Gautama.
The joy of Satyakama knew no bounds. He became the most sincere disciple of Gautama. Satyakama started learning the lessons with all intensity just like a desert sand sucks the drops of rain.
Once sage Gautama called Satyakama. He said, ?Oh Satyakama, here are 400 cows. All are well fed. I hand-over to you the whole herd of 400 cows. You go to the forest with these cows, tend them properly and come back to me only after the number of cows has increased to 1,000. Till then you should not return to this ashrama.?
Satyakama readily agreed to fulfill the task. He went to the forest with the herd of 400 cows. He tended the cows with devotion. Within a few years the number of cows was raised to 1,000. So Satyakama returned to his Guru Gautama with a huge herd of 1,000 cows.
Sage Gautama cast a glance at Satyakama. Satyakama'sface was glittering with unusual luster. It was the luster of knowledge and the ultimate knowledge viz. Brahmajanan. Gautama recognised within no time that Satyakama had learnt what needs to be learnt.
?Dear Satyakama, you have attained Brahmajanan viz. knowledge of the Soul and of the Almighty. Say wherefrom did you obtain the knowledge?? asked Gautama.
Satyakama replied with all humility, ?Sir, knowledge is flowing from all the cardinal directions. I obtained one fourth knowledge from the group represented by wind, one fourth from the group represented by fire, one fourth from the group represented by swan and one fourth from the group represented by the Madgu bird. Sir, it is your mercy which alone bestowed this ultimate knowledge to me. I beseech your blessings as a mark of fulfillment?.
Sage Gautama was highly pleased with his disciple Satyakama. He offered his blessings to Satyakama.
Little friends, Satyakama has composed number of beautiful poems with flashes of eternal knowledge which shine like a diamonds in Rigveda.
