Whoever, knowing the truth, worships the sun as Brahman, to such a one, if noble sounds or praises were to approach, they would come near and salute him in reverence. Now, there was a man named Jānaśruti Pautrāyaṇa. He was known far and wide as a giver of faith, generous, and renowned for his hospitality. So committed was he to this virtue that he arranged for food to be available everywhere, always thinking, “Let there be food everywhere for me.” One night, as darkness settled, a flock of swans flew overhead. Among them, one swan called out to another, “Ho, ho, Bhallākṣa! Bhallākṣa! The radiance of Jānaśruti Pautrāyaṇa shines equally by day. Do not try to surpass it, nor diminish it.” But the other swan replied, “Who is this, whose radiance you compare to Raikva, the cart-dweller?” For who indeed is Raikva, the cart-dweller? Just as, when a chariot is won, the lower parts follow along, so too does all this follow him. Whatever good people do, whoever knows this, whatever he knows, I have spoken of it. Jānaśruti overheard this conversation. Disturbed and curious, he turned to his steward and asked, “Who is this Raikva, the cart-dweller, whose radiance you compare?” Again, who is Raikva, the cart-dweller? For just as, when a chariot is won, the lower parts follow, so all this follows him. Whatever good people do, whoever knows this, whatever he knows, I have spoken of it. The steward set out to search for Raikva but could not find him. Returning, he said, “Wherever there is a search for a Brahmin, honor him there.” Eventually, the steward found a man sitting beside a leprous sore under a cart and addressed him, “You, revered one, are Raikva with the cart yoked.” The man replied, “I am indeed without the yoke.” The servant recognized that this was indeed Raikva and returned. Jānaśruti, the grandson of Pautra, then gathered six hundred cows, a necklace, and a chariot drawn by mules, and set out to meet Raikva. He addressed him with respect, “Raikva, here are six hundred cows, this necklace, and this chariot drawn by mules. Please, revered one, instruct me in that deity which you worship.” But Raikva replied, “Take these away, Śūdra. Let them remain with you and your cows.” Undeterred, Jānaśruti returned with even greater offerings: a thousand cows, a necklace, a chariot drawn by mules, and his daughter. He approached Raikva again, “Raikva, here are a thousand cows, this necklace, this chariot drawn by mules, this wife, and this village in which you reside. Please, revered one, instruct me.” Raikva touched her mouth and said, “Take these away, Śūdra. You will feed them with this mouth.” Thus, those are called Raikva’s leaves among the great bulls where he resided. Then Raikva spoke: “Indeed, air is the absorber. When fire goes out, it merges into air. When the sun sets, it merges into air. When the moon sets, it merges into air. When the waters dry up, they too merge into air. Air indeed absorbs all these; this is with regard to the deities. Now, with regard to the self: breath is indeed the absorber. When one sleeps, speech merges into breath, sight merges into breath, hearing merges into breath, mind merges into breath. Breath indeed absorbs all these. These two are the absorbers: air among the gods, breath among living beings.” Once, while Śaunaka Kāpeya and Abhipratāri Kākṣaseni were being served, a student approached them for alms, but they did not give him anything. The student then said, “Among the great souls, there are four, O gods. Who is the one who is awake, the guardian of the world? Kāpeya, mortals do not see him. Abhipratāri, he dwells in many forms. To whom this food is given?” Śaunaka Kāpeya, reflecting, understood: “The self is the creator of the gods and beings, with golden tusks, shining, without envy. His greatness is said to be immense, unmeasured. Whoever eats food without giving, we, as students, worship this. Give him alms.” So they gave to the student. These five, and five more, making ten, were given. Therefore, in all directions, ten portions of food are made. This is the Virāj, the lord of food. By this, all is seen; all is seen by him. He becomes the eater of food who knows thus, who knows thus. Now, Satyakāma, the son of Jabālā, once asked his mother, “Mother, I wish to live as a student of sacred knowledge. What is my lineage?” She replied honestly, “I do not know, dear, what your lineage is. I served many, wandering in my youth, and I obtained you then. I do not know your lineage. My name is Jabālā, your name is Satyakāma. So you should say you are Satyakāma, son of Jabālā.” Satyakāma went to Gautama, son of Hāridrumata, and said, “Revered one, I wish to live as a student of sacred knowledge. May I approach you, revered one?” Gautama asked, “What is your lineage, dear?” Satyakāma replied truthfully, “I do not know, revered one, what my lineage is. I asked my mother, and she told me: ‘I served many, wandering in my youth, and I obtained you then. I do not know your lineage. My name is Jabālā, your name is Satyakāma.’ So, revered one, I am Satyakāma, son of Jabālā.” Gautama said to him, “A non-Brahmin should not explain this. Bring the firewood, dear, I will lead you. You have not spoken the truth.” Then, having brought him, he rejected four hundred thin and weak cows and said, “Dear, follow these.” When he sent them forth, he said, “Do not return unless you have a thousand.” Satyakāma stayed for years, tending the cows, and when the thousand had gathered together— Then the bull approached him and said, “Satyakāma.” “Yes, revered one,” he replied. “Dear, we have reached a thousand. Lead us to the teacher’s house. I will tell you a portion of Brahman.” “Let the revered one speak to me,” Satyakāma said. The bull said, “The eastern direction is a quarter, the western direction is a quarter, the southern direction is a quarter, the northern direction is a quarter. These, dear, are the four quarters, a foot of Brahman, called ‘radiant.’” Whoever, knowing thus, worships this fourfold foot of Brahman as ‘radiant,’ becomes radiant in this world and conquers radiant worlds. The bull then said, “Agni will tell you a foot.” So, the next day, Satyakāma drove the cows onward. When they reached their destination, he set up the fire, restrained the cows, placed the firewood, and sat facing east behind the fire. Agni approached him and said, “Satyakāma.” “Yes, revered one,” he replied. “Dear, I will tell you a foot.” “Let the revered one speak to me,” Satyakāma said. Agni said, “Earth is a quarter, atmosphere is a quarter, heaven is a quarter, ocean is a quarter. These, dear, are the four quarters, a foot of Brahman, called ‘boundless.’” Whoever, knowing thus, worships this fourfold foot of Brahman as ‘boundless,’ becomes boundless in this world and conquers boundless worlds. Agni then said, “The swan will tell you a foot.” The next day, Satyakāma drove the cows onward. When they reached their destination, he set up the fire, restrained the cows, placed the firewood, and sat facing east behind the fire. The swan approached him and said, “Satyakāma.” “Yes, revered one,” he replied. “Dear, I will tell you a foot.” “Let the revered one speak to me,” Satyakāma said. The swan said, “Fire is a quarter, sun is a quarter, moon is a quarter, lightning is a quarter. These, dear, are the four quarters, a foot of Brahman, called ‘luminous.’” Whoever, knowing thus, worships this fourfold foot of Brahman as ‘luminous,’ becomes luminous in this world and conquers luminous worlds. The swan then said, “The diver-bird will tell you a foot.” So, the next day, Satyakāma drove the cows onward. When they reached their destination, he set up the fire, restrained the cows, placed the firewood, and sat facing east behind the fire. The diver-bird approached him and said, “Satyakāma.” “Yes, revered one,” he replied. Thus, the sacred knowledge was revealed step by step to the earnest seeker, each teacher—be it animal, fire, or bird—imparting a portion of the infinite Brahman, guiding the devoted Satyakāma on his journey toward the ultimate truth.