Satyakam Jabali

Jabal is an innocent, illiterate, poor orphan girl eking out her livelihood working as a maid in hermitages in a forest. One night a Celestial appeared in her dream and blessed her with a son. In course of time a son was born to unwed mother Jabal and she raised her son as a single mom strictly in the tradition of those hermitages where she is working.
Jabal always insisted that her son should always speak the truth, be honest, sincere and truthful. When the time came for her son to be educated in vedic tradition Jabal sent her son to the ashram of senior sage Gautam to get himself registered as a pupil in the ashram. At the time of registration the sage asked the boy his name, his father’s name and his caste etc.
The boy truthfully said that he does not know who his Father is, does not have a name and is not aware of any caste particulars. The sage is very impressed with the boy’s honesty and asked him to bring his mother. Jabal approached the sage and testified to all that is stated by her son and told her name is Jabal.

The sage accepted the boy, named Him Satyakam Jabali, truth-speaking son of Jabal.

One day the sage Gautam told him that before he could teach him, Satyakam should take the herd of 400 weak cows of the ashram and return only when it had multiplied to 1000. After that the sage Gautam would impart him knowledge. Without uttering a single word Satyakam left with the cows. He took them to the forest and looked after them with loving care.
After many years the herd grew to 1000. Every cow was strong and healthy. It was time for Satyakam to return to the sage Gautam’s ashram. All the gods and deities were happy with Satyakam’s obedience and dedication to his guru. Along the way he was blessed with knowledge by fire, a bull, a swan and a waterfowl. Now enlightened, Satyakam reached the ashram. Gautam saw the glow of enlightenment on his face. He was also very happy that Satyakam had looked after the cows very well. He then accepted Satyakam as his pupil and blessed him with Brahmavidya.
Satyakam is an ideal of truth, obedience and true service to the guru.

 
Satyakam Jabali – Mythology Stories