Upamanyu was one of Guru Ayoda-Dhaumya’s disciples. Dhaumya told him, “Go, my child Upamanyu, and take care of the cows.” Following his teacher’s orders, Upamanyu went to tend the cows. After watching over them all day, he returned to his teacher’s house in the evening and respectfully greeted him. His teacher, noticing Upamanyu’s healthy appearance, asked, “Upamanyu, my child, how do you sustain yourself? You look very healthy.” Upamanyu replied, “Sir, I sustain myself by begging.” His teacher then said, “You should not use what you get from begging without offering it to me first.” Following this instruction, Upamanyu went away. After obtaining alms, he offered everything to his teacher. His teacher took all of it, leaving nothing for Upamanyu. Despite this, Upamanyu went back to tend the cows and returned in good health. His teacher again asked, “Upamanyu, I take everything you get from begging, so how do you manage to stay healthy?” Upamanyu answered, “Sir, after giving you everything I receive from begging, I beg again for my sustenance.” His teacher replied, “This is not the right way to behave. By doing this, you are taking away from others who also rely on begging. You should not be so greedy.” Agreeing with his teacher, Upamanyu continued to tend the cows. Returning again in good health, his teacher asked, “Upamanyu, you no longer eat alms, nor do you beg a second time, yet you remain healthy. How do you support yourself now?” Upamanyu replied, “Sir, I live on the milk of the cows.” His teacher told him, “It is not right to take the milk without my permission.” Upamanyu agreed and continued his duties. Still looking healthy, his teacher asked again, “Upamanyu, you don’t eat alms, beg a second time, or drink the milk, yet you are healthy. How do you live?” Upamanyu replied, “Sir, I sip the froth the calves produce while sucking their mothers’ teats.” His teacher said, “It is wrong to deprive the calves. You should not drink the froth.” Upamanyu agreed and continued tending the cows without eating alms, begging, drinking milk, or tasting froth. One day, while hungry in the forest, Upamanyu ate the leaves of the Arka plant (Asclepias gigantea). The pungent and acrid leaves made him blind. As he crawled around, he fell into a pit. When Upamanyu did not return by evening, his teacher noticed his absence and, learning he had gone out with the cattle, went to search for him with the other disciples. Calling out for Upamanyu, they heard him respond from the bottom of a well. His teacher asked how he got there, and Upamanyu explained, “I ate the leaves of the Arka plant and became blind, then fell into this well.” His teacher then told him, “Praise the twin gods Aswins, the divine physicians, and they will restore your sight.” Following his teacher’s advice, Upamanyu began to praise the Aswins with verses from the Rig Veda.
“O Aswins, I adore you! I also adore the sky, which is your creation! You are the ones who determine the results of all actions, even for the gods! You are free from the consequences of your own actions. You are the parents of all! As both male and female, you consume the food that becomes life-giving fluid and blood! The newborn infant sucks its mother’s teat. Indeed, it is you who takes the form of the infant! O Aswins, grant me my sight to protect my life!”
The twin Aswins, thus invoked, appeared and said, “We are satisfied. Here is a cake for you. Take and eat it.” Upamanyu replied, “Your words, O Aswins, have never been false. But without offering this cake to my teacher, I dare not eat it.” The Aswins then told him, “Earlier, your teacher invoked us. We gave him a cake like this, and he ate it without offering it to his master. Do as your teacher did.” Upamanyu responded, “O Aswins, I beg your pardon. Without offering it to my teacher, I dare not eat this cake.” The Aswins said, “We are pleased with your devotion to your teacher. Your teacher’s teeth are of black iron. Yours shall be of gold. You shall be restored to sight and have good fortune.”
After hearing this from the Aswins, Upamanyu regained his sight. He went to his teacher, saluted him, and told him everything. His teacher was very pleased and said, “You shall have prosperity, as the Aswins said. All the Vedas shall shine within you, and you shall know all the Dharma-sastras.” And thus, Upamanyu’s trial was complete.
The story of Upamanyu offers several valuable life lessons:
Dedication and perseverance: Upamanyu demonstrates extreme dedication to his guru’s instructions, persisting even in the face of hunger and hardship. This teaches the value of commitment to one’s chosen path or mentor.
Obedience and discipline: The story emphasizes the importance of following instructions precisely, even when they seem difficult or unreasonable. This can be seen as a lesson in discipline and respect for authority.
Adaptability: Upamanyu continually finds new ways to sustain himself when previous methods are forbidden. This shows the importance of adaptability and creative problem-solving in challenging situations.
Honesty: Upamanyu always truthfully answers his guru’s questions about how he’s sustaining himself, even when it leads to further restrictions. This underscores the value of honesty in a student-teacher relationship.
Resilience: Despite facing increasingly difficult circumstances, Upamanyu doesn’t give up or complain. This illustrates the power of resilience in the face of adversity.
Sacrifice and Hard Work: Upamanyu’s willingness to endure hunger and hardship reflects his dedication to his teacher and his learning. Be prepared to make sacrifices and work hard to achieve your goals and gain valuable knowledge and experience.
The dangers of desperation: Upamanyu’s decision to eat unknown plants when starving leads to his blindness, teaching the importance of caution even in desperate times.
Faith and Trust in Higher Powers: Upamanyu follows his teacher’s advice to invoke the Aswins, showing his faith in divine intervention. Trust in a higher power or guiding principles can give you strength and help you find solutions in times of need.
The rigors of traditional education: While extreme by modern standards, the story illustrates the intense testing and training disciples underwent in ancient Indian gurukul systems.
Self-control: Upamanyu’s ability to resist temptation (like drinking milk without permission) demonstrates the value of self-discipline.
Ethical Behaviour: Upamanyu refuses to eat the cake given by the Aswins without first offering it to his teacher, demonstrating his strong ethical principles. Uphold your moral values and ethics, even when it is difficult to do so.
Selflessness and Devotion: Upamanyu’s selflessness in not taking the cake without offering it to his teacher pleases the Aswins, who reward him with golden teeth and the restoration of his sight. Being selfless and devoted to your duties and responsibilities can lead to unexpected rewards and recognition.
Importance of Gratitude: Upamanyu’s reverence and gratitude towards his teacher, even in difficult times, highlight the importance of being thankful. Expressing gratitude can strengthen relationships and foster a positive and supportive environment.