Once upon a time, Satyakama the son of Jabala addressed his mother and said: "Revered Mother, I wish to become a brahmacharin. Of what ancestry am I?"
She said to him: "I do not know, my child, of what ancestry you are. In my youth I was preoccupied with many household duties and with attending on guests when I conceived you. I do not know of what ancestry you are. I am Jabala by name and you are Satyakama. So you may speak of yourself as Satyakama Jabala (the son of Jabala).
He came to Gautama the son of Haridrumata and said: "Revered Sir, I wish to live with you as a brahmacharin. May I approach you, as a pupil?"
Gautama said to him: "Of what ancestry are you, dear friend?" Satyakama said: "I do not know, Sir, of what ancestry I am. I asked my mother about it and she replied: ‘In my youth I was preoccupied with many household duties and with attending on guests when I conceived you. I do not know of what ancestry you are. I am Jabala by name and you are Satyakama.’ I am therefore, Sir, Satyakama Jabala."
Gautama said: "None but a true brahmin would thus speak out. Fetch the fuel, dear friend; I shall initiate you. You have not departed from truth."
He initiated Satyakama. Having separated out four hundred lean and weak cows from his herd, he said: "Dear friend, go with these."
Driving them away toward the forest, Satyakama said: "I shall not return until they become a thousand." He lived a number of years in the forest.
When the cows had become a thousand-
Chapter V - Instruction by the Bull
1
The bull of the herd, addressing him, said: "Satyakama!"
"Revered Sir!" Satyakama replied.
The bull said: "Dear friend, we have become a thousand, take us to teacher’s house.
2
"I will declare to you one foot of Brahman."
"Declare it, Revered Sir."
The bull said to him: "The east is one quarter, the west is one quarter, the south is one quarter, the north is one quarter. This, dear friend, is foot of Brahman, consisting of four quarters and this foot is called Prakasavat (shining).
"He who knows this and meditates on the foot of Brahman consisting four quarters as shining, becomes shining on this earth. He conquers shining worlds-he who knows this and meditates on the foot of Brahman consisting of four quarters as shining."
Chapter VII - Instruction by Fire
1
The bull further said: "Agni (fire) will declare to you another foot of Brahman."
Satyakama then, when it was the morrow, drove the cows in the direction of the teacher’s house. And when they came together toward evening, he lighted a fire, penned the cows, laid fuel on the fire and sat down behind the fire, facing the east.
2
Agni (fire), addressing him, said: "Satyakama!"
"Revered Sir!" Satyakama replied.
3
"Dear friend, I will declare to you one foot of Brahman."
"Declare it, revered Sir."
Agni said to him: "The earth is one quarter, the sky is one quarter, heaven is one quarter, the ocean is one quarter. This, dear friend, is one foot of Brahman, consisting of four quarters and this foot is called Anantavat (endless).
4
"He who knows this and meditates on the foot of Brahman consisting of four quarters as endless, becomes endless on this earth. He conquers endless worlds-he who knows this and meditates on the foot of Brahman consisting of four quarters as endless."
1. Agni further said: "A hamsa (swan) will declare to you another foot."
Satyakama then, when it was the morrow, drove the cows in the direction of the teacher’s house. And when they came together toward evening, he lighted a fire, penned the cows, laid fuel on the fire and sat down behind the fire, facing the east.
2
Then a swan flew to him and said: "Satyakama!"
"Revered Sir!" Satyakama replied.
3
Dear friend, I will declare to you one foot of Brahman."
"Declare it, revered Sir."
The swan said to him: "Fire is one quarter, the sun is one quarter, the moon is one quarter, lightning is one quarter. This, dear friend, is one foot of Brahman, consisting of four quarters and this foot is called Jyotishmat (luminous).
4
He who knows this and meditates on the foot of Brahman consisting of four quarters as luminous, becomes luminous on this earth. He conquers luminous worlds-he who knows this and meditates on the foot of Brahman consisting of four quarters as luminous.
Chapter VIII - Instruction by the Diver-Bird
1
The swan further said: "A madgu (diver-bird) will declare to you another foot."
Satyakama then, when it was the morrow, drove the cows in the direction of the teacher’s house. And when they came together toward evening, he lighted a fire, penned the cows, laid fuel on the fire and sat down behind the fire, facing the east.
2
Then a diver-bird flew to him and said: "Satyakama!"
"Revered Sir!" Satyakama replied.
3
"Dear friend, I will declare to you one foot of Brahman."
"Declare it, revered Sir."
The diver-bird said to him: "The prana is one quarter, the eye is one quarter, the ear is one quarter, the mind is one quarter. This, dear friend, is one foot of Brahman, consisting of four quarters and this foot is called Ayatanavat (having support).
4
"He who knows this and meditates on the foot of Brahman consisting of four quarters as Ayatanavat, possesses a support (i.e. home) on this earth. He conquers the worlds which offer a home-he who knows this and meditates on the foot of Brahman consisting of four quarters as Ayatanavat."
Chapter IX - Instruction by the Teacher
1
Satyakama reached the teacher’s house. The teacher said to him: "Satyakama!"
"Revered Sir!" Satyakama replied.
2
The teacher said: "Dear friend, you shine like one who knows Brahman. Who has taught you?"
"Others than men," he replied. "But I wish, revered Sir, that you alone should teach me."
3
"For I have heard from persons like your good self that only knowledge which is learnt from a teacher (acharya) leads to the highest good."
Then he (Gautama) taught him the same knowledge. Nothing whatsoever was left out, yea, nothing whatsoever was left out.