Yajnavalkya at King Janaka's Court

Dadi: "Guddu, imagine walking into a room full of the greatest scholars in the world and simply taking the prize without asking - because you knew, without doubt, that you deserved it."

Guddu: "That would be so bold! Who did that?"

Dadi: "The sage Yajnavalkya, at the court of King Janaka. This story shows us both his wisdom and his magnificent confidence."

Guddu: "Tell me everything!"

Dadi: "King Janaka of Videha was famous for his wisdom and spiritual seeking. He organized a grand sacrifice where he invited the greatest Vedic scholars from all kingdoms. To find the most learned among them, he offered an extraordinary prize - a thousand cows, each with ten gold coins fixed on their horns!"

Guddu: "That's an enormous prize!"

Dadi: "Janaka announced: "Let the one who is the best knower of Brahman take these cows home." And then something awkward happened - nobody stepped forward."

Guddu: "Why not? They were all great scholars!"

Dadi: "Fear, beta. Each was afraid to claim superiority and then be proven wrong in debate. Pride mixed with self-doubt kept them frozen."

Guddu: "So what happened?"

Dadi: "Yajnavalkya simply turned to his student and said: "Drive these cows to my house." The boy obeyed, and suddenly the cows were being led away!"

Guddu: "Didn't the other scholars object?"

Dadi: "They were outraged! "How dare you claim to be the greatest among us?" they demanded."

Guddu: "What was Yajnavalkya's response?"

Dadi: "He said something clever: "I bow to the best Vedic scholar. I just want the cows." This puzzled everyone - was he humble or arrogant?"

Guddu: "That is confusing!"

Dadi: "But it was also a trap. If anyone claimed to be the greatest scholar to take back the cows, they'd have to prove it by defeating Yajnavalkya in debate. The debates began - and Yajnavalkya defeated every single challenger."

Guddu: "How many people challenged him?"

Dadi: "Eight great scholars, one after another! The first asked about escaping death through sacrifice. Yajnavalkya explained that rituals alone aren't enough - meditation must accompany action."

Guddu: "Who else challenged him?"

Dadi: "Artabhaga asked about how our senses trap us. Bhujyu asked about cosmic journeys after death. Ushasta asked about the Self that exists within everything. Each time, Yajnavalkya's answers revealed deeper and deeper wisdom."

Guddu: "Did any woman challenge him?"

Dadi: "Yes! Gargi Vachaknavi, one of the most brilliant philosophers in history. She was called one of the nine jewels of Janaka's court. She challenged Yajnavalkya not once, but twice!"

Guddu: "What did she ask?"

Dadi: "The first time, she asked a series of piercing questions: "What is water woven on? What is air woven on? What is space woven on?" - trying to find the ultimate foundation of everything. She kept asking "And what is THAT woven on?" until Yajnavalkya had to stop her."

Guddu: "Why did he stop her?"

Dadi: ""Don't question too far, Gargi, or your head will fall off. You're asking about the Absolute which cannot be questioned beyond." Some truths can only be experienced, not analyzed."

Guddu: "Did Gargi give up?"

Dadi: "No! She came back with more refined questions. This time Yajnavalkya described the Absolute using negation: "It is not gross, not minute, not short, not long, not red, not moist. It is without shadow, without darkness, without air, without space, without attachment...""

Guddu: "Describing what it's NOT instead of what it IS!"

Dadi: "Because the Absolute is beyond all descriptions! Finally Gargi was satisfied. She turned to the assembled scholars and declared: "You should consider it a great achievement if you can escape Yajnavalkya with just a bow. None of you can defeat him in describing Brahman.""

Guddu: "She admitted he won!"

Dadi: "From the most brilliant mind in the room! After the public debates, Janaka himself engaged Yajnavalkya in private dialogue. He asked about the nature of the Self in waking, dreaming, and deep sleep."

Guddu: "What did Yajnavalkya teach him?"

Dadi: "At the end, he declared: "Janaka, you have attained the fearless state. Fearlessness is Brahman, and you have reached it through your questions, studies, contemplations, and meditations.""

Guddu: "The king became enlightened through asking questions?"

Dadi: "That's the teaching, beta! Janaka offered Yajnavalkya his entire kingdom in gratitude. But the sage refused - he wanted nothing but to share the supreme knowledge."

Guddu: "So confidence without arrogance, wisdom without wanting reward?"

Dadi: "You understand the heart of it. Yajnavalkya knew his knowledge, claimed his prize, defeated all challengers - but remained unattached to worldly rewards. That's true wisdom: knowing your worth without needing to prove it, and proving it without needing to keep what you win."