Bālāki
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Bālāki refers to
- Son of Balākā
- One of King Dhṛtarāṣtṛa's 100 sons (in Mahabharata)
Son of Balākā[edit]
The Brhadāranyaka Upaniṣad[1] mentions one sage Bālāki (Son of the lady Balākā) who was Gārgya (a descendant of the sage Garga). He was nicknamed as ‘Drpta-Bālāki’ since he was a vain person (dṛpta = vain).
He had mastered one aspect of the knowledge of Brahman. He went to the King Ajātaśatru of Kāśī and expressed his desire to teach him. The King saw through Bālāki vanity and proved his own superiority. Bālāki accepted the king as his guru and learned about nirguna Brahman.
References[edit]
- ↑ Brhadāranyaka Upaniṣad 2.1
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore