THE BEAUTIFUL STORY OF SVETAKETU AND HIS COWS!!

THE BEAUTIFUL STORY OF SVETAKETU AND HIS COWS!!

Sage Uddalaka, also called Uddalaka Aruni, is the father of Svetaketu.

Sage Uddalaka is the Grandfather of Sage Ashtavakra, the composer of the Ashtavakra Gita

When Svetaketu was twelve years old Sage Uddalaka sent him to Gurukul for studies. 

Svetaketu learnt and mastered all the Scriptures in a period of twelve years. There was nothing more left to be taught so his Guru sent him Home.

When Svetaketu returned home after twelve years Sage Uddalaka could sense a lack of humility in the attitude of his son.Sage Uddalaka was unhappy.

He  asked Svetaketu "My Dear son! Have you been initiated into the knowledge of that by which whatever is unheard becomes heard, whatever is untaught becomes taught, and whatever is unknown becomes known?” 

Now Svetaketu got confused he had expected his father to be proud of all vast knowledge that he had gained .

Svetaketu said that he had learnt sincerely all that his Master taught him and there was nothing more to learn so his Master sent him back home

His Father said, “Then you Go back and ask your Master that you be Taught that which cannot be Taught.”

He went back to his Gurukul and after Bowing down at his master’s feet and said

My father has told me to come back home only when I have Learned that which Cannot be Learned, when I have been Taught that which cannot be Taught.

He asked his master why he was not taught all that.

The master said, “Unless one inquires, it cannot be told,, he never inquired about it, so it was not taught.

Svetaketu enquired what he was supposed to do.

Master  told him to take all the cows of his Gurukul – there were at least Four Hundred cows,  and Go to the Deepest Forest possible where Nobody ever comes and moves.

Live with the Cows in Silence.

Don’t talk, because they cannot Understand any Language.

So remain Silent, and when  Four Hundred Cows have become One Thousand, then Come back.”

He went to the forest and lived with the Cows for Many years..

For a Few days thoughts Remained there in the mind, the same thoughts repeating themselves again and again.  For a few days the mind went on with all the knowledge that it had gathered, but what use was it? 

The Cows were just Munching grass, and Svetaketu was sitting amongst those cows Waiting for the time when they will become one thousand.

Slowly his mind began to Quieten.It was just Svetaketu and the Cows.sitting under the Trees, sleeping near the Streams, by and by his Mind became Silent.

He almost became like a cow, its said even his eyes looked like cows eyes

Days passed, months passed.  Svetaketu forgot Everything: Knowledge, Language, Arithmetic. There was no need… by and by everything became useless.

 

Meanwhile  slowly the Cows increased in numbers'.

 

His mind became so silent that Svetaketu completely forgot when he had to return. He became so silent that even this idea was not there

And  then one day a Cow spoke to Svetaketu and said, “We have become one thousand, now it is time to get back home. It seems you have forgotten counting too!” And really he had forgotten.

He brought those Cows back to the Master’s Gurukul. 

Meanwhile the Gurukul had grown and become big. 

When the other disciples saw the Cows along with Svetaketu entering the Gurukul

They rushed to the master and informed the master about their arrival.

Svetaketu entered the Gurukul along with the Cows and Stood still.

The Disciples in Gurukul in sheer excitement began to the count the cows.when they finished counting they declared they are Thousand in number Svetaketu has returned.

The Master said, “No, One Thousand and One.

The Master came to receive him; he was Dancing, Ecstatic.

He Embraced Svetaketu and he said, “Now there is nothing to say to you – you have Already Known. Why have you come?"There is no need to come now, there is Nothing to be taught". 

Shvetaketu handed the Cows to the master said, "Just to pay my Respects, just to Touch your feet, just to be Grateful. It has Happened, and you have Taught me that which cannot be Taught". 

Then Svetaketu  returned back home.His father was really very old; he was waiting for the son. Svetaketu had become so Humble, so Simple. He touched his Father’s feet  with tears flowing from his eyes.

Sage Uddalaka said, “So, it has happened. Now I can die Peacefully. I have Fulfilled my Duty; I am not leaving behind me an Ignorant man full of Arrogance of Knowledge. I am leaving behind me a Pure Space, a Being so Alert, Aware, Knowing himself – which is the Greatest Knowledge  in the World.