Sages & Others

Yajnavalkya

याज्ञवल्क्य

Receiver of the Yajushes

Who was Yajnavalkya?

Yajnavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य): Receiver of the Yajushes, one of the sages and supporting figures in the Mahabharata. The Rishi who adored Surya until the god granted him the Yajushes, sending Saraswati into his body so that he burned and had to plunge into a stream before the knowledge cooled in him.

Quick Facts

Key facts about Yajnavalkya
Sanskrit nameयाज्ञवल्क्य
Title / EpithetReceiver of the Yajushes
FactionSages & Others
Key traitsradiant, systematic, contentious, illumined
Notable relationshipsPreceptor: Surya, Goddess Who Entered Him: Saraswati, Maternal Uncle and Rival: Vaishampayana, Royal Pupil: Daivarati
Featured in2 stories

About Yajnavalkya

The Rishi who adored Surya until the god granted him the Yajushes, sending Saraswati into his body so that he burned and had to plunge into a stream before the knowledge cooled in him. From that he compiled the Satapatha Brahmanas, taught them to a hundred disciples, and took half the dakshina at a sacrifice in a famous dispute with his maternal uncle Vaishampayana. His long answer to king Daivarati of Janaka's line on Prakriti, Purusha and the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth principles is one of the Shanti Parva's central expositions.

In Their Words

I had no knowledge of the Yajushes, and I asked the Sun for them without loss of time.

Yajnavalkya

Traits

  • radiant
  • systematic
  • contentious
  • illumined

Story Appearances

Stories Featuring Yajnavalkya

One further tale on this site names Yajnavalkya.

Character Arc

  1. The Mouth OpenedSaraswati enters him at Surya's word and he burns
  2. The Satapatha CompiledThe Brahmanas appear to his inner sight and he sets them down
  3. Half the DakshinaHe takes his share before Devala, against his uncle's claim

Key Relationships

Places in Yajnavalkya's Story

Drawn from the stories Yajnavalkya appears in.

Related Characters

Others counted among the Sages & Others.