Chandogya Upanishad 4.4.1-5 Lecture 135 on 06 September 2025 Q&A

Chandogya Upanishad Q&A Session with Swami Dayatmanandaji Maharaj - September 6, 2025

Question: The Meaning of the Name Jabala

Student A: So, I'm wondering, you mentioned the meaning of Satyakama, but I'm thinking, what about Jabala? Is there a meaning that we should derive from that name as well to help us with understanding?

Maharaj: No. That is just a name. But as I mentioned symbolically she must have been a Brahmana woman. First of all a Brahmana man, male, it is very rare to marry a non-Brahmin.

Many people misinterpret. I am following the footsteps of Shankaracharya. It is based upon this one. Of course I have added a few things. This harsh truth especially directly to her own son. Will any prostitute tell to her son, "I am a prostitute and I don't know who your father is"?

Whether anybody will ask, anybody will reply. But this lady fearlessly, truthfully she said. As I mentioned, a Brahmana is supposed to be truthful, but we take it the other way round. A person is a Brahmana only when he speaks the truth. So this lady spoke truth or not?

Student A: Absolutely.

Maharaj: She must be a Brahmana. Even taking for granted she was a low caste woman. Even if it is taken also. If this low caste person had spoken truth, automatically we have to consider that person not a low caste person but no less than a Brahmana. The name is only just, there is no meaning in that name. Just like any other name it is there.