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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.

==  परिचय || Introduction ==

==  परिचयः || Introduction ==

Shvetaketu represents the quintessential seeker of knowledge. The Upanishads entail the journey of Shvetaketu from असत || Asat (ignorance) to सत || sat (knowledge of the self and truth). The context of Shvetaketu appears mainly in three Upanishads, namely, the   

Shvetaketu represents the quintessential seeker of knowledge. The Upanishads entail the journey of Shvetaketu from असत || Asat (ignorance) to सत || sat (knowledge of the self and truth). The context of Shvetaketu appears mainly in three Upanishads, namely, the   

#  Brhadaranyaka Upanishad S. 6.2.1 to 6.2.8

#  Brhadaranyaka Upanishad S. 6.2.1 to 6.2.8

Shvetaketu is the recipient of the knowledge enshrined in the उपनिषद् महाकाव्य || Upanishad mahavakya which appears in the sixteen chapters of the 6th section (प्रपथक || Prapathaka) of the [[Chaandogya Upanishad (छान्दोग्य उपनिषद्)|Chaandogya Upanishad]]. The story of Uddalaka and Shvetaketu is detailed in [[Mahabharata (महाभारत)|Mahabharata]] in different पर्व || parvas such as सभ || Sabha, सल्य || Salya, and शान्ति पर्व || Shanti parvas.

Shvetaketu is the recipient of the knowledge enshrined in the उपनिषद् महाकाव्य || Upanishad mahavakya which appears in the sixteen chapters of the 6th section (प्रपथक || Prapathaka) of the [[Chaandogya Upanishad (छान्दोग्य उपनिषद्)|Chaandogya Upanishad]]. The story of Uddalaka and Shvetaketu is detailed in [[Mahabharata (महाभारत)|Mahabharata]] in different पर्व || parvas such as सभ || Sabha, सल्य || Salya, and शान्ति पर्व || Shanti parvas.

==  उद्दालक || Uddalaka (Aruni) The Father ==

==  उद्दालकः || Uddalaka : The Father ==

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

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

It is mentioned in [[Mahabharata (महाभारत)|Mahabharata]], Santi Parva, Chapter 57, Stanza 10, Bhisma explaining राजधर्म || Rajadharma to Dharmaraja explains that Uddalaka expelled his son Shvetaketu from the house because he used to invite Brahmanas with deceptive promises of entertainment and ill treated them.  

It is mentioned in [[Mahabharata (महाभारत)|Mahabharata]], Santi Parva, Chapter 57, Stanza 10, Bhisma explaining राजधर्म || Rajadharma to Dharmaraja explains that Uddalaka expelled his son Shvetaketu from the house because he used to invite Brahmanas with deceptive promises of entertainment and ill treated them.  

==  श्वेतकेतु || Shvetaketu (Aruneya) The Son ==

==  श्वेतकेतुः || Shvetaketu : The Son ==

Smritis refer to Shvetaketu as a Maharshi.

Smritis refer to Shvetaketu as a Maharshi.

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" />

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 ==

== 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 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 ==