Satyakam, the Truthful Boy

Long ago, a mother named Jabala lived with her son, Satyakam. Satyakam wanted to study. In those days, children lived at a guru's ashram to learn, and the guru first asked a child about his gotra, the name of his family line.

Satyakam asked his mother, "Maa, I want to go and study with a guru. What is my gotra?" His mother told him the truth: "Son, when I was young, I worked as a helper in many homes. In those days you came into my arms. I do not know your gotra. My name is Jabala, and your name is Satyakam. Say that you are Satyakam Jabal."

Satyakam went to the ashram of Rishi Haridrumat Gautam. With folded hands he said, "Guru ji, I wish to live with you and learn." The rishi asked, "Child, what is your gotra?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Satyakam repeated everything his mother had told him, word for word. The guru's eyes lit up. He said, "Only a true seeker of knowledge could give such an honest answer. You did not leave the side of truth. Go and bring wood for the sacred fire. I will take you as my pupil."

Some days later, the guru gave Satyakam four hundred thin, weak cows and said, "Look after them." Satyakam said, "I will not come back until they have become a thousand." He took the cows far into the forest and cared for them lovingly for many years.

When the cows had become a thousand, something wonderful happened. A bull from the herd said, "Satyakam, we have become a thousand. Now take us to your guru. Let me tell you something about God." The bull told him that God is in all four directions. On the way back, one evening, the fire told him that God is in the earth, the sky, the worlds above and the ocean. The next evening a swan said that God is in the light of fire, sun, moon and lightning. And then a water bird said that God is also in our breath, our eyes, our ears and our mind.

When Satyakam reached the ashram, the guru said, "Child, your face is shining with knowledge. Who taught you?" Satyakam answered humbly, "Guru ji, not people, but others taught me. Still, I wish you would teach me, because knowledge learned from one's guru is the best." Pleased, the guru taught him everything.

This same Satyakam grew up to be the great Rishi Satyakam Jabal.