You don't really need a Guru

After spending several months with the herd of cattle, our boy Satyakama finally returned to his teacher. What happened then? Did the teacher teach him at least then?

They say that the face is the mirror of the Mind. Satyakama’s teacher Guatama could read from the face of Satyakama that he has already understood whatever was there to be understood. He could see the glow on Satyakama’s face that clearly indicated the knowledge he has attained.

The teacher probably did not like someone else teaching Satyakama that which he himself had withheld from him. So he asked Satyakama

“Did anyone teach you anything?”

Satyakama was the most obedient student. He said

“No sir, no human being has taught me anything. Only you can teach me something, and please do”.

Finally, the teacher taught Satyakama whatever was to be taught. But what the teacher taught was same as what the bull, fire, swan and water bird had already taught him. There was nothing more, nothing less!

That is how the story ends.



Interesting story! But what is this story trying to convey apart from defining what is God? Let me just read between the lines.

It is probably saying that

1. Your birth, social status etc. are not very important in attaining the ultimate truth.

2. Not even a teacher is essential.

Birth, upbringing, teacher, and so on aid, but are not essential.

3. What is essential though is that you should have a strong desire to attain the knowledge and

4. You should put concerted effort till you get it.

So, some of us who run after Gurus, should take a lesson or two from Satyakama. Knowledge cannot be bought by paying a hefty fee nor by the clout of a Guru, but by a strong desire to get it and with sincere efforts.

If you have these, Guru or no Guru, you will finally get it.


Satyakama later became a great sage.


What I narrated for the past couple weeks is a story from Chandogya Upanishad which is a part of Sama Veda. Sama Veda is one of the four Vedas of ancient India.

Let me now conclude with the mantra for peace (shaanti mantra)

aapyaayanthu mama angaani, vaak, praaNah, chkshuh, shrothram, athO balam indhriyaaNi cha sarvaaNi
Let all my limbs, my speech, my vigor, my sight, my hearing, as well as all my organs get strengthened.
sarvam BrahmaupaniShdam
everything around is nothing but the Brahma that is talked about by all the Upanishads.
Maa aham Brahma niraakuryaam
let me never deny the Brahma
maa maa Brahma niraakarOth
nor the Brahma deny me
aniraakaraNam asthu
let there be no denials whatsoever
aniraakarNam mE asthu
let me never deny the existence of Brahma
tadhaathmani niratE ya upaniShatsu DharmaasthE
mayi santhu thE, mayi santhu
I am ardently interested in knowing that Brahma. So whatever wisdom that is propounded by the Upanishads, let that wisdom be mine, let that be mine.
Om shaanthi, shaanthi, shaanthi
Let there be peace, peace and nothing but peace.

In the next episode, I will take up another interesting story.

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A story of Satyakama Jabala from Chandogya Upanishad, which is part of Sama Veda. Upanishads are concluding parts of ancient Indian Vedic scriptures believed to be at least 5000 years old. The interpretation is by Dr.King (Copyright © 2019 Dr. King).