Changes

Smritis refer to Shvetaketu as a Maharshi.

Smritis refer to Shvetaketu as a Maharshi.

'''Birth:''' Shvetaketu was the son of the sage Aruni or Uddalaka who was born in the Gautama clan.  Shvetaketu was Uddalaka's son, born to his wife by one of his disciples. (Mahabharata Santi Parva, Chapter 35, Verse 22).  Shvetaketu had a sister named Sujata. Astavakra was her son by the sage, Kahotaka. Thus Shvetaketu was Astavakra's maternal uncle and the grew up together in Uddalaka's ashram.

'''Birth:''' Shvetaketu was the son of the sage Aruni or Uddalaka who was born in the Gautama clan.  Shvetaketu was Uddalaka's son, born to his wife by one of his disciples. (Mahabharata Santi 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 Astavakra's maternal uncle and the grew up together in Uddalaka's ashram.<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>

'''Ritvik of the Sarpasatra''' of Janamejaya: The prominent Rtviks of Janamejaya's sarpa yaga were Bhargava, Kautsa, Jaimini, Sarhgarava, Pihgala, Vyasa, Uddalaka, Pramattaka, Shvetaketu, Asita, Devala, Narada, Parvata, Atreya, Kundajara, Kalaghajs, Vatsya, Kohala, Devasarma, Maudgalya and Samasaurabha. (Chapter 53, Adi Parva, M.B.)

'''Rtvik of the Sarpasatra''' of Janamejaya: The prominent Rtviks of Janamejaya's sarpa 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)

'''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. 6.1.2 & 6.1.3)"</blockquote><blockquote>"tamādeśamaprākṣeyaḥ yonāśrutaṃ śrutaṃ bhavatyamataṃ matamavijñāātaṃ vijñātamiti kathaṃ nu bhagavaḥ sa ādeśo bhavatīti || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.2 & 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?

'''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?

Shvetaketu admitted that he did not know. Then Uddalaka explained to him the mystery of Paramatma (universal soul) which is without beginning or end. The phrase तत्त्वमसि || tattvamasi appears here, that is designated as one of the four महावाक्य || Mahāvākya(s) in the Upaniṣhads.

Shvetaketu admitted that he did not know. Then Uddalaka explained to him the mystery of Paramatma (universal soul) which is without beginning or end. The phrase तत्त्वमसि || tattvamasi appears here, that is designated as one of the four महावाक्य || Mahāvākya(s) in the Upaniṣhads.

As per the [[Chaandogya Upanishad (छान्दोग्य उपनिषद्)|छान्दोग्य उपनिषद् (Chaandogya Upanishad)]] of the Sama Veda (5-3), Shvetaketu, once came to the assembly of Panchalas, whose reigning monarch was Pravahana Jaivali.  When he proclaimed himself as a ब्रह्म ज्ञानी || brahmajnani, the king decides to test his knowledge.

As per the [[Chaandogya Upanishad (छान्दोग्य उपनिषद्)|छान्दोग्य उपनिषद् (Chaandogya Upanishad)]] of the Sama Veda (5-3), Shvetaketu, once came to the assembly of Panchalas, whose reigning monarch was Pravahana Jaivali.  When he proclaimed himself as a ब्रह्म ज्ञानी || brahmajnani, the king decides to test his knowledge.  

== पञ्चप्रश्र्नाः || The Five Questions ==

== पञ्चप्रश्र्नाः || The Five Questions ==

# वेत्थ यदितोऽधि प्रजाः प्रयन्तीति  -  न भगव इति || vettha yadito'dhi prajāḥ prayantīti - na bhagava iti ||  

# वेत्थ यदितोऽधि प्रजाः प्रयन्तीति  -  न भगव इति || vettha yadito'dhi prajāḥ prayantīti - na bhagava iti ||  

# वेत्थ यथा पुनरावर्तन्त इति  - न भगव इति || vettha yathā punarāvartanta iti - na bhagava iti ||

# वेत्थ यथा पुनरावर्तन्त इति  - न भगव इति || vettha yathā punarāvartanta iti - na bhagava iti ||

# वेत्थ पथोर्देवयानस्य पितृयानस्य च व्यावर्तना इति - न भगव इति || vettha pathordevayānasya pitṛyānasya ca vyāvartanā iti - na bhagava iti || (Chan. Upan. 5.3.2)  

# वेत्थ पथोर्देवयानस्य पितृयानस्य च व्यावर्तना इति - न भगव इति || vettha pathordevayānasya pitṛyānasya ca vyāvartanā iti - na bhagava iti || (Chan. Upan. 5.3.2)<ref name=":0">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%AB Adhyaya 5])</ref>

# वेत्थ यथाऽसौ लोको न सम्पूर्यत इति - न भगव इति || vettha yathā'sau loko na sampūryata iti - na bhagava iti ||

# वेत्थ यथाऽसौ लोको न सम्पूर्यत इति - न भगव इति || vettha yathā'sau loko na sampūryata iti - na bhagava iti ||

# वेत्थ यथा पञ्चम्यामाहुतावापः पुरुषवचसो भवन्तीति - नैव भगव इति || vettha yathā pañcamyāmāhutāvāpaḥ puruṣavacaso bhavantīti - naiva bhagava iti || (Chan. Upan. 5.3.3)

# वेत्थ यथा पञ्चम्यामाहुतावापः पुरुषवचसो भवन्तीति - नैव भगव इति || vettha yathā pañcamyāmāhutāvāpaḥ puruṣavacaso bhavantīti - naiva bhagava iti || (Chan. Upan. 5.3.3)<ref name=":0" />

The following are the King's five questions (meaning) in serial order :

The following are the King's five questions (meaning) in serial order :

# Do you know from here (this लोक || loka) where do the people go (after death)?  

# Do you know from here (this लोक || loka) where do the people go (after death)?  

Before accepting Uddalaka and Shvetaketu as his disciples the King had to set down the rules as the reigning system did not allow knowledge to be imparted to

Before accepting Uddalaka and Shvetaketu as his disciples the King had to set down the rules as the reigning system did not allow knowledge to be imparted to

* anyone who stayed outside the precincts of the गुरुकुल || gurukul,

* anyone who stayed outside the precincts of the गुरुकुल || gurukul

* unfamiliar persons,

* unfamiliar persons

* a person who lacks the अधिकार || adhikara (aptitude) to acquire knowledge.

* a person who lacks the अधिकार || adhikara (aptitude) to acquire knowledge

The King requests Uddalaka & his son to stay at his palace. And through many years the King imparted knowledge to both Uddalaka & Shvetaketu.

The King requests Uddalaka & his son to stay at his palace. And through many years the King imparted knowledge to both Uddalaka & Shvetaketu.<ref name=":1">Narayanacharya, K. S. (2011). ''Veda Sanskritiya Parichaya, Part I''. Hubli:​Sahitya Prakashana​.</ref>

Responses to these questions were provided through explanation of [[Panchagni Vidya (पञ्चाग्नि विद्या)|Panchagni vidya]], which also included explanations of devayan (journey to the deva loka post death) and pitruyan (journey to Pitr loka post death) as well as of पञ्चमहायज्ञ || pancamaha yajna. This was the explanation provided by the king as the essence of Brahmavidya

Responses to these questions were provided through explanation of [[Panchagni Vidya (पञ्चाग्नि विद्या)|Panchagni vidya]], which also included explanations of [[Devayana and Pitrayana (देवयान मार्ग और पित्रयान मार्ग)|devayan]] (journey to the deva loka post death) and pitruyan (journey to Pitr loka post death) as well as of पञ्चमहायज्ञ || pancamaha yajna. This was the explanation provided by the king as the essence of Brahmavidya.

As an introduction to पञ्चाग्निविद्या, the  क्षत्रिय || Kshatriya King told the brahmin, "you are the first one amongst the Brahmans to receive the knowledge of this ब्रह्मविद्या, up until now it was known only to Kshatriyas."

As an introduction to पञ्चाग्निविद्या, the  क्षत्रिय || Kshatriya King told the brahmin, "you are the first one amongst the Brahmans to receive the knowledge of this ब्रह्मविद्या, up until now it was known only to Kshatriyas."<ref name=":1" />

== सम्वाद || Discussion ==

== सम्वाद || 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 brahmins 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 brahmins were the only custodians of knowledge.

== References ==

== References ==

# 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.

#  

# 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]''.

#  

# https://www.facebook.com/puransandvedas/posts/601568603317075

# https://www.facebook.com/puransandvedas/posts/601568603317075

# Ganganatha, Jha. (1923). ''The Chandogya Upanishad and Sri Sankara's Commentary'', Fourth Volume, Madras: The India Printing Works.

#