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[[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|उद्दालकः ॥ Uddalaka]] (आरुणिः ॥ Aruni) and [[Shvetaketu (श्वेतकेतु)|श्वेतकेतुः ॥ Shvetaketu]] (आरुणेयः ॥ Aruneya) are the father and son pair, whose quest for [[Brahmavidya (ब्रह्मविद्या)|ब्रह्मविद्या ॥ Brahmavidya]] is recounted in the [[Chaandogya Upanishad (छान्दोग्य उपनिषद्)|छान्दोग्य उपनिषद् ॥ Chandogya Upanishad]] of [[Sama Veda (सामवेदः)|सामवेद ॥ Sama Veda]]. Brahmavidya is the highest and most difficult level of metaphysical knowledge or ज्ञानम् ॥ Jnana to be acquired by any spiritual knowledge seeker. And [[The four Vedas (चतुर्वेद)|वेदाः ॥ Vedas]] and [[Upanishads|उपनिषदः ॥ Upanishads]] are the one and only source for this Jnana.  Though Upanishads explain this knowledge, it lies ultimately with the individual to attain this knowledge by साधना ॥ sadhana.

[[Uddalaka (उद्दालक)|उद्दालकः ॥ Uddalaka]] (आरुणिः ॥ Aruni) and [[Shvetaketu (श्वेतकेतु)|श्वेतकेतुः ॥ Shvetaketu]] (आरुणेयः ॥ Aruneya) are the father and son pair, whose quest for [[Brahmavidya (ब्रह्मविद्या)|ब्रह्मविद्या ॥ Brahmavidya]] is recounted in the [[Chaandogya Upanishad (छान्दोग्य उपनिषद्)|छान्दोग्य उपनिषद् ॥ Chandogya Upanishad]] of [[Sama Veda (सामवेदः)|सामवेद ॥ Sama Veda]]. Brahmavidya is the highest and most difficult level of metaphysical knowledge or ज्ञानम् ॥ Jnana to be acquired by any spiritual knowledge seeker. And [[The four Vedas (चतुर्वेद)|वेदाः ॥ Vedas]] and [[Upanishads|उपनिषदः ॥ Upanishads]] are the one and only source for this Jnana.  Though Upanishads explain this knowledge, it lies ultimately with the individual to attain this knowledge by साधना ॥ sadhana.

#  Kaushitaki Brahmana (S.1.)

#  Kaushitaki Brahmana (S.1.)

Shvetaketu is the recipient of the knowledge enshrined in the [[Mahavakyas|उपनिषद्-महवाक्यानि || Upanishad mahavakya]] which appears in the sixteen chapters of the 6th section (प्रपाठकः || Prapathaka) of the Chandogya Upanishad. The story of Uddalaka and Shvetaketu is detailed in महाभारतम् ॥ [[Mahabharata (महाभारत)|Mahabharata]] in different पर्व-s || Parvas such as सभापर्वः || Sabha Parva, शल्यपर्वः || Shalya Parva, and शान्तिपर्वः || Shanti Parva.

Shvetaketu is the recipient of the knowledge enshrined in the [[Mahavakyas|उपनिषद्-महवाक्यानि || Upanishad mahavakya]] which appears in the sixteen chapters of the 6th section (प्रपाठकः || Prapathaka) of the Chandogya Upanishad. The story of Uddalaka and Shvetaketu is detailed in महाभारतम् ॥ [[Mahabharata (महाभारत)|Mahabharata]] in different पर्व-s || Parvas such as सभापर्वः || Sabha Parva, शल्यपर्वः || Shalya Parva, and शान्तिपर्वः || Shanti Parva.

==  उद्दालकः || Uddalaka : The Father ==

==  उद्दालकः || Uddalaka : The Father ==

उद्दालकः ॥ Uddalaka (also called आरुणिः ॥ Aruni) was the disciple of the teacher अयॊधाधौम्यः || Ayodhadhaumya. He is very famous for his devotion to his Guru Dhaumya.   

उद्दालकः ॥ Uddalaka (also called आरुणिः ॥ Aruni) was the disciple of the teacher अयॊधाधौम्यः || Ayodhadhaumya. He is very famous for his devotion to his Guru Dhaumya.   

It is mentioned in Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, Chapter 57, Stanza 10, that भीष्मः ॥ Bhisma explaining राजधर्मः || Rajadharma to धर्मराजः ॥ Dharmaraja explains that Uddalaka expelled his son Shvetaketu from the house because he used to invite ब्रह्मणाः ॥ Brahmanas with deceptive promises of entertainment and ill treated them.  

It is mentioned in Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, Chapter 57, Stanza 10, that भीष्मः ॥ Bhisma explaining राजधर्मः || Rajadharma to धर्मराजः ॥ Dharmaraja explains that Uddalaka expelled his son Shvetaketu from the house because he used to invite ब्रह्मणाः ॥ Brahmanas with deceptive promises of entertainment and ill treated them.  

==  श्वेतकेतुः || Shvetaketu : The Son ==

==  श्वेतकेतुः || Shvetaketu : The Son ==

[[Smriti|स्मृति-s || Smritis]] refer to Shvetaketu as a महर्षिः ॥ Maharshi.

[[Smriti|स्मृति-s || Smritis]] refer to Shvetaketu as a महर्षिः ॥ Maharshi.

=== Birth ===

=== Birth ===

Shvetaketu was the son of the sage आरुणिः ॥ Aruni or उद्दालकः ॥ Uddalaka who was born in the गौतम ॥ Gautama clan.  Shvetaketu was Uddalaka's son, born to his wife by one of his disciples. (Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, Chapter 35, Verse 22)<ref>Ganguli, K. M. (2003). ''[https://ia600302.us.archive.org/34/items/TheMahabharataOfKrishna-dwaipayanaVyasa/MahabharataOfVyasa-EnglishTranslationByKMGanguli.pdf The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Book 12: Santi Parva]''.</ref>.  Shvetaketu had a sister named Sujata. Astavakra was her son by the sage, Kahotaka. Thus, Shvetaketu was Ashtavakra's maternal uncle and they grew up together in Uddalaka's ashrama.<ref>Mani, V. (1975). ''[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft Puranic encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature]''. Delhi:Motilal Banarsidass.</ref><ref>https://www.facebook.com/puransandvedas/posts/601568603317075</ref>

Shvetaketu was the son of the sage आरुणिः ॥ Aruni or उद्दालकः ॥ Uddalaka who was born in the गौतम ॥ Gautama clan.  Shvetaketu was Uddalaka's son, born to his wife by one of his disciples. (Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, Chapter 35, Verse 22)<ref>Ganguli, K. M. (2003). ''[https://ia600302.us.archive.org/34/items/TheMahabharataOfKrishna-dwaipayanaVyasa/MahabharataOfVyasa-EnglishTranslationByKMGanguli.pdf The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Book 12: Santi Parva]''.</ref>.  Shvetaketu had a sister named Sujata. Astavakra was her son by the sage, Kahotaka. Thus, Shvetaketu was Ashtavakra's maternal uncle and they grew up together in Uddalaka's ashrama.<ref>Mani, V. (1975). ''[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft Puranic encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature]''. Delhi:Motilal Banarsidass.</ref><ref>https://www.facebook.com/puransandvedas/posts/601568603317075</ref>

=== Rtvik of the Sarpasatra of Janamejaya ===

=== Rtvik of the Sarpasatra of Janamejaya ===

The prominent ऋत्विक्-s || Rtviks of जनमेजय ॥ Janamejaya's सर्पसत्रः ॥ sarpasatra (a यागः ॥ yaga) were,

The prominent ऋत्विक्-s || Rtviks of जनमेजय ॥ Janamejaya's सर्पसत्रः ॥ sarpasatra (a यागः ॥ yaga) were,

Bhargava, Kautsa, Jaimini, Sarhgarava, Pihgala, Vyasa, Uddalaka, Pramattaka, Shvetaketu, Asita, Devala, Narada, Parvata, Atreya, Kundajara, Kalaghajs, Vatsya, Kohala, Devasarma, Maudgalya and Samasaurabha. ( Mahabharata, Adi Parva, Chapter 53)

Bhargava, Kautsa, Jaimini, Sarhgarava, Pihgala, Vyasa, Uddalaka, Pramattaka, Shvetaketu, Asita, Devala, Narada, Parvata, Atreya, Kundajara, Kalaghajs, Vatsya, Kohala, Devasarma, Maudgalya and Samasaurabha. ( Mahabharata, Adi Parva, Chapter 53)

=== Studentship ===

=== Studentship ===

Under his father's training, Shvetaketu became a great scholar. With the rise of his scholarship, he became very conceited. The father who understood this, called him to his side and asked him,<blockquote>तमादेशमप्राक्षेयः योनाश्रुतं श्रुतं भवत्यमतं मतमविज्ञाातं विज्ञातमिति कथं नु भगवः स आदेशो भवतीति || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.3)<ref>Chandogya Upanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%9B%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AC Adhyaya 6])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>tamādeśamaprākṣeyaḥ yonāśrutaṃ śrutaṃ bhavatyamataṃ matamavijñāātaṃ vijñātamiti kathaṃ nu bhagavaḥ sa ādeśo bhavatīti || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.3)</blockquote>Meaning : By studying all about what you can see, hear and understand, have you learnt anything about what you cannot see, hear or understand?

Under his father's training, Shvetaketu became a great scholar. With the rise of his scholarship, he became very conceited. The father who understood this, called him to his side and asked him,<blockquote>तमादेशमप्राक्षेयः योनाश्रुतं श्रुतं भवत्यमतं मतमविज्ञाातं विज्ञातमिति कथं नु भगवः स आदेशो भवतीति || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.3)<ref>Chandogya Upanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%9B%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AC Adhyaya 6])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>tamādeśamaprākṣeyaḥ yonāśrutaṃ śrutaṃ bhavatyamataṃ matamavijñāātaṃ vijñātamiti kathaṃ nu bhagavaḥ sa ādeśo bhavatīti || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.3)</blockquote>Meaning : By studying all about what you can see, hear and understand, have you learnt anything about what you cannot see, hear or understand?

== संवादः || Discussion ==

== संवादः || Discussion ==

This story clearly reveals that in the Vedic period, even Kshatriyas were well versed in Brahmavidya debunking the Caste-system hierarchies of the East India Company Indologists’ insinuation that brahmanas were the only custodians of knowledge.

This story clearly reveals that in the Vedic period, even Kshatriyas were well versed in Brahmavidya debunking the Caste-system hierarchies of the East India Company Indologists’ insinuation that brahmanas were the only custodians of knowledge.