Short story about Brahma Dnyana

A short story by Bhagwan Shri Satya Saibaba on Bramha Dnyana

In one of His discourses, Bhagwan Shri Satya Saibaba stated the following story to illustrate the Bramha Dnyan. The same illustration is found in Upanishads also.

There was a great, highly knowledgeable muni named Uddalaka. He had a son named Shwetaketu who was interested in learning under his father. His father refused to teach him as he was sure that he can’t be strict Guru and the father-son relation will be a barricade. So he sent his son to another muni for learning. The son had a feeling that his father was not so well versed to give him dnyan and hence he has sent him to another guru as disciple. This thought made him egoistic and arrogant.

After completing the gurukul, he came back with the feeling that he has more knowledge than his father. Uddalaka understood his son’s ego. He wanted to teach him a lesson and make him realize what the true knowledge i.e. dnyan

He asked his son the following questions –
1. Have you understood about Bramhan? 
2. Do you know how to feel it?
3. Do you know what makes your knowledge (dnyan) grow on its own?

Shwetaketu could not answer these questions. He tried to browbeat around some statements. Uddalaka understood that Shwetaketu has not attained even basic knowledge. He decided to teach him by practical means. He ordered his son to fetch a jug of water and handful of salt. He showed Shwetaketu the salt and asked him to mix it in the water. He inquired whether he can tell, where the salt is in the water in the jug. His son put his hand inside the jug and tried to feel for the salt. He took out his hand and tried to smell the salt. But he could not find the trace of the salt. Then Uddalaka put few drops of water into mouth of Shwetaketu. The son explained the salt is in the water in his mouth. His father explained to him that if you taste the water from any portion of the jug, you will find the salt is spread everywhere. But you could not touch or feel the salt in water, though it is present everywhere. Similarly, the principle of Parabramha is the same. Bramhan is spread everywhere. You cannot see or touch it but you can feel, understand that it is spread everywhere. Once you understand this principle then there is no need for any other dnyan. In this manner, Uddalaka taught his son to be humble and in the end imparted the mantra Tat Tvam Asi i.e that thou art. The mantra proclaims the non-difference between individual Self and Bramhan.

We need to interpret principles correctly

The following story was told by Bhagwan Shri Satya Sai Baba during one of his discourses. Listeners of the discourse did nice job of capturing content of discourse and then publish it in one of the spiritual magazines for the benefit of others. 

The story was told by Baba in order to explain how we should interpret and put into practice the Principles (Tatvas) and maintain integrity in what we preach and what we say.

Once Sage Durvasa was on the bank of river Yamuna which was in spate. He was contemplating on Lord Krishna. On the other bank , Lord Krishna had come along with his wife Rukmini to Nandanvan. Lord Krishna had the vision of Durvasa standing on the other bank and he ordered Rukmini to carry food to the sage who was hungry. She asked Krishna, how to cross river Yamuna, as it was in spate. Lord Krishna, with a smiling face, told her, “You tell river Yamuna that Nitya Bramhachaari Krishna has ordered me to cross you, so give way to me. She will give way to you to cross her”.

Rukmini could not digest this statement as Krishna had 2 wives and innumerable rajkumaris (about 16000) as his consorts. Then how can he call himself a Nitya Bramhachaari. Still she obeyed her husband’s order and requested river Yamuna. Yamuna gave way to her to reach sage Durvasa.

On reaching the other bank, she served food to the sage. Now she wondered, how she was going to get back to Lord Krishna? She requested sage Durvasa to help her to cross the river. Sage told her to request river Yamuna in the following manner. You say to Yamuna that “Under the order of Lord Krishna, I came here to serve food to Nitya Upvaasi sage Durvasa. Now I want to go back to Lord Krishna. Please make way for me. Yamuna will give way to you way to help you reach other bank” Rukmini again could not understand, how sage Durvasa can be called be as a Nitya Upvasi as just now she has served food to him. Still, obeying the order of the sage she requested river Yamuna who made way for her to reach the other bank. She was surprised by these acts. All this was beyond her imagination and while still wondering about all this, she reached Lord Krishna in a confused state. Lord Krishna realized that some doubt is troubling Rukmini and asked her to give way to her doubts.

Rukmini asked him how he could himself call as Nitya Bramhachaari and the sage Durvasa can call himself as Nitya Upvaasi? And at the same time river Yamuna seems to be accepting this and gives way to me. I am unable to fathom these actions. 

Krishna with a smiling face, explained to her in following manner.

Nitya Bramhachaari is one who acts as Guru or Teacher to those who approach him daily to understand Bramha. I do that job daily so I am a Nitya Bramhachaari.

Nitya Upvaasi is one who always thinks of the Lord and stays very close to Him in his mind. As sage Durvasa is such a person, he could call himself a Nitya Upvaasi. 

Rukmini realized the truth and bowed to her husband with respect, love, affection and gratitude.

From this story we can conclude that shastras teach us how to live but it is for us to understand the real meaning (principle) and follow and live accordingly.