The Devotion of Upamanyu

The great sage Ayodhdhaumya was renowned for his wisdom and had many disciples, but among them, a young boy named Upamanyu was his favorite. Upamanyu was dedicated, humble, and deeply respectful toward his teacher, which endeared him to the sage. One day, wishing to test his disciple’s obedience and resolve, the sage decided to inquire about his well-being.

“Upamanyu,” the sage said, observing the boy’s healthy appearance, “you look very strong and healthy. What do you eat?” In those days, disciples relied on alms for food, as it was part of their training to learn humility and simplicity. Upamanyu respectfully replied, “I eat only the food that I receive as alms, my teacher.”

The sage, wanting to test Upamanyu’s discipline, instructed him, “From now on, do not consume anything without first asking my permission.” Upamanyu, devoted and obedient, agreed without question. From then on, he brought all the food he collected to his teacher, who took everything, leaving nothing for Upamanyu. Yet Upamanyu accepted this silently, bearing the hunger with patience and respect for his teacher’s instruction.

Days passed, and the sage noticed that Upamanyu still appeared healthy, despite having no food. Curious, he asked, “You look well, Upamanyu. How do you sustain yourself?” Upamanyu replied humbly, “After you take the food, I go and beg a second time to satisfy my hunger.”

The sage frowned at this response, gently admonishing him, “You should not beg twice, Upamanyu. It is not right to take more than what you are given, for that would deprive others who are also in need.” Upamanyu understood and vowed to follow his teacher’s command without complaint.

A few more days passed, yet Upamanyu continued to look healthy. Intrigued, the sage asked again, “Upamanyu, you still look well. How do you manage without food?” Upamanyu answered with utmost humility, “When I take the cows out to graze, I drink a little of the milk they produce to sustain myself.”

The sage, seeing Upamanyu’s resourcefulness, instructed him not to drink the cows’ milk, as it was meant for the sustenance of the cows’ calves. Respecting his teacher’s wishes, Upamanyu obeyed without a word.

Now, left with no other means of nourishment, Upamanyu’s health began to weaken. Desperate and exhausted, he resorted to chewing the leaves of wild plants he found in the forest. Unfortunately, one of these plants was poisonous, and soon, Upamanyu’s vision began to blur, eventually leading him to fall into a ditch, blinded and helpless.

When the sage noticed that Upamanyu had not returned, he set out to search for his disciple. He found Upamanyu lying in the ditch, suffering but still steadfast in his faith and obedience. Deeply moved by his disciple’s loyalty and devotion, the sage prayed to the divine Ashwini Kumaras, the celestial physicians, to restore Upamanyu’s sight.

Moved by the sage’s plea, the Ashwini Kumaras appeared and healed Upamanyu’s eyes. Restored and grateful, Upamanyu offered his thanks to his teacher, who embraced him with pride and affection. Ayodhdhaumya blessed Upamanyu, recognizing his unwavering dedication and purity of heart.

**Moral:** True devotion and obedience require selflessness and faith, even in the face of hardship. The loyalty of a disciple and the compassion of a teacher together reveal the beauty of a devoted heart and the rewards of unwavering trust.