The story of Satyakama Jabala in chapter four of Chandogya Upanishad is a classical example of the intellectual catholicity of our ancient sages transcending the barriers of caste, community, religion and family! One becomes a brahmin not because of his family and parentage! The first and foremost quality is honesty and truthfulness! He must be a seeker after the Brahman, a realized soul. It is immaterial if he is a Sudra or of any other caste or community! It is the conduct,character, and real passion for ‘Brahma Vidya’ that distinguishes the aspirant from the ordinary disciple. Lord Krishna clears all doubts on the creation of caste system in his Divine discourse to Arjuna in the Bhdagavad Gita. “ Chatur varnam maya srushtya guna karma vibhagasaha”- I have created the four varnas or classes based on their qualities or gunas and their deeds or karmas. In other words a Kshatriya, Vaisya, or a Sudra can become a brahmin by his sterling qualities of conduct and character. On the other hand a brahmin can degrade himself by his objectionable conduct and character! The name Satyakama is very significant. It means one who desires Satya or Truth which is Brahman itself. He was the son of a servant maid and prostitute! Growing up, he wanted to seek knowledge which according to the Upanishads is Brahma Vidya.
He approached his mother Jabala and enquired about his father as the teacher would ask who his father and mother are. Jabala replied that she doesn't know who he is as she went to many places and moved with many people! She directed him to call himself Satyakama Jabala and inform his teacher bravely and in truth! Eager for knowledge he went to sage Haridrumata Gautama and requested to admit him as his student. He told the Sage that his mother did not know who is father is! The teacher was stunned at the reply but appreciated the honesty and straightforwardness of the young lad! Such honesty and truthfulness is the striking quality of a brahmin! Sage Gautama considered him as a brahmin and accepted him as his student and disciple! Soon after initiating Satyakama to the study of the Brahman, Gautama selected 400 lean cows and bade him tend them properly and return when they grow into a thousand! Satyakama lived away in the forest for a number of years. He lived peacefully in the midst of nature and meditated.The cows had good pastures to graze and grew into a thousand.
The Bull in the herd reminded Satyakama to return to his teacher! It wanted to teach him a fourth part of the Brahman! It explained that the east, west, north and west are one sixteenth, forming a quarter of the Brahman. That is called the Resplendent! The Fire told him that the earth, atmosphere,sky and the ocean are one sixteenth and a quarter of the Brahman! It is called as the End! Next the Swan told him that the Fire, the Sun and the moon are also one sixteenth and one fourth of the Brahman! This is called the Luminous! Finally the diver bird told Satyakama that breath, the eye, the ear, and the mind are one sixteenth and form a quarter of the Brahman! This is called the Abiding!
After all these instructions, Satyakama reached his teacher sage Gautama. There was a radiance the face of Satyakama! Gautama was surprised at the effulgence radiating from the face of his student! He immediately exclaimed that Satyakama looked like one who had the knowledge of the Brahman! He asked him who taught him this Brahma Vidya! Satyakama replied that he was taught by others than men! Satyakama was not satisfied! He said that knowledge learnt from the guru leads to real good. There upon, sage Gautama instructed him on the very same knowledge of the Brahman!
The symbolic conversation of Satyakama with a bull,fire, a swan and a diver bird represent Vayu, Agni Aditya and Prana. He learns from these creatures that forms of Brahman are all in cardinal directions, north,south,east and south, world bodies - earth, atmosphere, sky and ocean, sources of light-- fire,sun, moon and lightning and in man-- breath, eye, ear, and mind! Satyakama thus graduates and becomes a celebrated teacher! A Vedic School is named after him! He is also the author of ‘ Jabala Upanishad, a treatise on sanyasa! Upakosala Kamalayana was a student of Satyakama Jabala!
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