Jnana Yoga

Both Indra and Virochana approach Prajapati to learn about the Self. Virochana leaves satisfied with superficial understanding that the body is the Self. Indra persists for 101 years through multiple teachings until he realizes the true Atman is the eternal witness beyond all states.

King Harishchandra surrenders his entire kingdom as dakshina to Vishwamitra, sells his wife and son, and works as a cremator. Despite unbearable suffering, he never deviates from truth, ultimately being restored by the gods moved by his unwavering dharma.

When Brahma and Vishnu argue over supremacy, a blazing pillar of light appears. Neither finds its end. Shiva reveals himself as the infinite reality beyond all forms.

After Chandraguptas first direct attack failed, a village woman scolded her son for eating bread from the center instead of cooling edges first. She said Chandragupta was equally foolish. Chanakya learned to conquer smaller kingdoms first before the capital.

Birbal gives servants equal-length sticks claiming they grow longer if held by a thief. The real thief cuts his shorter fearing exposure. The sticks were ordinary - the guilty conscience betrayed him. Truth always prevails.

During a famine, sage Ushasti begs for leftover beans from an elephant keeper. He accepts food (emergency ethics) but refuses leftover water since it wasn't necessary for survival. Later, he demonstrates profound knowledge of Prana at a king's sacrifice - true wisdom transcends circumstances.

Sage Jaimini approaches Markandeya with questions about the Mahabharata. Markandeya directs him to four wise birds in the Vindhya mountains - sons of Drona cursed to bird form. The birds answer four profound questions: Why was Vishnu born as a mortal? Why did Draupadi marry five husbands? Why did Balarama perform penance? Why were Draupadis sons killed?

Keshi, Kansa's most intelligent demon, studies Krishna's previous battles before attacking. But when Keshi tries a calculated assault, Krishna simply shoves his arm into the demon's mouth and expands it from within, destroying Keshi from the inside. Narada appears to note that Kansa will soon have to face Krishna directly.

When Krishna is falsely accused of murdering Prasena for the magical Syamantaka jewel, he tracks the gem to Jambavan's cave. After fighting the ancient bear for 21 days, Jambavan recognizes Krishna as his former lord Rama. He surrenders the jewel and offers his daughter in marriage. Krishna returns the gem to Satrajit, clearing his name.

Shalva, avenging his friend Shishupala, attacks Dwaraka with Saubha—a flying city given by Shiva. After days of aerial warfare and illusions designed to deceive Krishna, including a false image of his captive father, Krishna destroys both Shalva and his flying fortress, demonstrating that truth always defeats illusion.

When Arjuna falls in love with Krishna's sister Subhadra, there's a problem: Balarama wants her married to Duryodhana. Krishna secretly arranges an elopement, helping Arjuna abduct the willing Subhadra during a festival. He then persuades the furious Balarama that this match is far better than alliance with the Kauravas.

When Narada gives Krishna a celestial parijata flower that he gives to Rukmini, Satyabhama is jealous. To appease her, Krishna travels to heaven and uproots the entire divine tree. When Indra tries to stop him, Krishna easily defeats the king of gods and brings the tree to plant in Satyabhama's garden.

After Kansa's death, his father-in-law Jarasandha attacks Mathura seventeen times seeking revenge. Rather than continue endless warfare, Krishna leads the Yadavas to build Dwaraka on the western coast. Years later, Krishna enables Bhima to kill Jarasandha in single combat by revealing the secret of how the king can be defeated—by tearing him in half.

Parashurama's interactions with heroes of later ages - recognizing Rama of Ayodhya, teaching Bhishma and Drona, and the tragic curse upon his beloved student Karna.

Born with eight bodily deformities, twelve-year-old Ashtavakra enters Janaka's court to save his father and is mocked by scholars. He silences them by pointing out that they—judging by skin—are mere 'leather merchants.' His teachings to Janaka became the radical Ashtavakra Gita: you are already free.

Mumbai cigarette seller Nisargadatta Maharaj became one of the twentieth century's most direct teachers of non-duality. With no education or ashram, he taught from a tiny room: 'You are not what you think you are.' His book 'I Am That' showed that liberation requires no special setting—just seeing what you actually are.

Young Nachiketa waits three days at Death's door and wins three boons. He uses the third to ask what happens after death—refusing all worldly substitutes. Yama, impressed by his discrimination between pleasant and good, teaches him the nature of the eternal Self.

A man mistakes a rope for a snake in dim light—his fear is real, but the snake never existed. This classic jnana yoga teaching illustrates how ignorance creates the appearance of a separate world of suffering. Knowledge doesn't fight illusion; it reveals that only reality (the rope) was ever present.

When sage Yajnavalkya offers to divide his wealth before renunciation, wife Maitreyi asks instead for the knowledge of immortality. He teaches her that everything is loved for the sake of the Self—not for itself—and true knowledge means recognizing the Self as the source of all happiness.

When asked his lineage, Satyakama honestly reports his mother's words: she doesn't know his father. Sage Gautama accepts him precisely because of this honesty—'only a true brahmin could speak so truthfully.' Truth-telling, even about shameful origins, proves character more than noble birth.