Prashna Upanishad 1.1
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सुकेशा च भारद्वाजः शैब्यश्च सत्यकामः सौर्यायणी च गार्ग्यः कौसल्यश्चाश्वलायनो भार्गवो वैदर्भिः कबन्धी कात्यायनस्ते हैते ब्रह्मपरा ब्रह्मनिष्ठाः परं ब्रह्मान्वेषमाणा एष ह वै तत्सर्वं वक्ष्यतीति ते ह समित्पाणयो भगवन्तं पिप्पलादमुपसन्नाः॥
sukeśā ca bhāradvājaḥ śaibyaśca satyakāmaḥ sauryāyaṇī ca gārgyaḥ kausalyaścāśvalāyano bhārgavo vaidarbhiḥ kabandhī kātyāyanaste haite brahmaparā brahmaniṣṭhāḥ paraṃ brahmānveṣamāṇā eṣa ha vai tatsarvaṃ vakṣyatīti te ha samitpāṇayo bhagavantaṃ pippalādamupasannāḥ ||
"Sukesha Bharadvaja, Satyakama Shibi, Sauryayani Gargya, Kausalya Ashvalayana, Bhargava Vaidarbhi, and Kabandhi Katyayana - these six seekers, devoted to Brahman and seeking the supreme, approached the venerable sage Pippalada with firewood in hand."
What This Means:
Six sincere seekers approach the great sage Pippalada. Coming with firewood in hand shows their humility and readiness to serve the teacher.
Going Deeper:
The tradition of approaching a guru with samit (sacred firewood) signifies the readiness to kindle the fire of knowledge through disciplined study.
How To Apply This:
Approach learning with humility and readiness to serve. True knowledge comes to those who are sincerely prepared.
#guru-shishya#seeking#humility