Stories from Upaniṣhads and Puranas

This is a continuation of my previous episode, " Why couldn't the Vashisthas and Vishwamitras see eye-to-eye? Story of Asi and Baka - Part 1 ". In this episode, I will narrate the story when Sage Vasistha, as "Asi" or Bank Mynah, who clashed in a deadly duel with Sage Vishwamitra as "Baka" or Indian Crane. Do you want to know what happened when these two super-pow...

Discover the age-old rivalry between the Vashisthas and Vishwamitras in this captivating tale from ancient Indian mythology. Learn about the story of Asi and Baka in the first part of this epic series! #ramayana #mahabharata #Rig Veda #Vasishtha #Vishwamitra #Battle of Ten Kings #Dasarajna WarWelcome to Stories from Upanishads and Puranas – a channel where timeless wisdom meets soulful storytellin...

"What would you sacrifice for the truth? Your wealth? Your crown? Your family? This is the story of a man who gave up everything — not for power, not for glory, but for dharma. Step into the fire-lit world of King Harishchandra, where honesty clashes with fate, and the gods themselves become spectators to a mortal’s uncompromising integrity. This is not just mythology — it's a mirror of timeless c...

What’s the real price of a promise? A piece of gold? A bit of land? For one legendary king, the price of his word was far, far greater. It wasn't his crown or his vast, prosperous kingdom. The ultimate cost of his promise was his beloved wife, his only son, and himself. This is the story of a kingso devoted to truth that he was forced to sell his own family and himself into slavery. It's a...

Dear Friends and listeners, Welcome to another brand new episode from my podcast series -"Stories from Upanishads and Puranas". This episode is in continuation of my previous episode -"The story of four birds". This episode looks further into Rishi Jaimini's journey in search of four talking birds and finally getting his questions on "Bharata" answered. The episod...

This is my first story from the Puranas, and as I told youall last time, in my channel, I will narrate stories from both the Upanishads and the Puranas. So please like, share, and subscribe to my channel if you haven’t done so. Also, if you want to have a direct conversation with me, pleaseemail me at arghyathinks@gmail.com . Rishi Jaimini had a few intriguing questions on the great text named &qu...

Today's story is taken from Maitreya Upanishad. This story is featured in chapter 1 of the Upanishad. This chapter describes the dialogue between the great ascetic king Brihaadratha from the Ikshvaaku dynasty or Solar dynasty and Sage Saakaayana. Please like, share, subscribe and download my podcast “Stories from Upanishads”, available on multiple podcast streaming platforms. Also, visit my websit...

The part 2 of Maandukya Upanishad deals with "AUM". It describes verses 8-12 from the Upanishad. It tells us about "AUM", how do you pronounce it? What happens when you chant "AUM" and many other secrets lying hidden in the syllable "AUM"? How it is connected to Viraat Purush, Hiraanyagarbha, Ishwara and Brahman? Why silence is "Turiya" the fourth quarter of Aatman? How do you perform Aum Kara Dhy...

This is the 1st part of the Maandukya Upanishad in which the teacher describes the 4 states of Self. This episode also describes one of the Mahaavaakya from Upanishad -" Ayam Aatma Brahma " which means - " This Self is Brahman". As told in Muktika Upanishad, Maandukya Upanishad is the most important of all the 108 Upanishads. So come on friends, let's embark on a journey to...

Dear friends, I am back with the next part of the story - "What are the paths of liberation". The episode will tell you about types of Vaasanaas or desires, what are the fluctuations of the mind and how to control it, what are jivan mukti and Videha mukti. I hope you will love this episode as you have loved the previous part. Please visit the website, https://www.storiesfromupanishads.com, read th...

Muktika Upanishad is the last of the 108 Upanishads which is derived from Shukla Yajur Veda. I have extracted this story from this upanishad which presents a dialogue between Lord Shree Ramchandra and Lord Hanuman, where in Hanuman asks Lord Ram about the vedanta, upanishads and paths of salvation. This episode features adhyaya 1 or chapter 1 from the Upanishad. Do you know what are the 108 Upanis...

Satyameva Jayate Na-anrtam -  satyena panthaa vitato devayaanah | Yen-aakramanty-rsayo hyaapta-kaamaa -  Yatr tat satyasya paramam nidhaanam || Which means - Truth alone triumphs not untruth. By truth is laid out the divine path, which the seers who are free from desires, reach to the supreme abode of truth”. This is story from Mundaka Upanishad and describes a dialogue between Sage Angiras and hi...

This episode is in continuation of last week's podcast episode on Prashna Upanishad - Shat Prashna. It is a collection of 6 questions asked by 6 different students to their guru Sage Pipalada. In today's episode, the next 3 set of questions and their responses are retold. The 4th question was asked by Gaargya on what is that thing which sleeps when a man sleeps which awakes when he is awakened, wh...

This is the part 1 of Shat Prashna or 6 questions from Prashna Upanishad. Once 6 hermits named Sukeshaa Bharadwaja, the descendant of Sage Bharadwaja, Saibya Satyakama, the grandson of Surya named Sauryaayani, Gaargya from the line of Garga, Kausalya Aasvalaayana the son of Asvala, Vaidarbhi Bhargava from the line of Bhrigu and Kabandhii Kaatyaana, the great grandson of Kaatya asked the great sage...

What are desires? What are dreams? How does the soul transmigrate? Is Self Indeed Brahman? Is Self the light for the man, when there is no sun, moon or fire? All these questions are answered in the episode - Yagnavalkya and King Janaka part 2, which is the concluding part of the question and answer session between the two learned men from ancient India. This podcast was created on Hubhopper studio...

BU presents most of the stories from the life of the ancient vedic sage Yagnavalkya and many of them also feature King Janaka of Videha. Today's story is part 1 of never ending conversation between the Sage and the King. In this story, the king learns about Speech, Sight, Hearing, Vital Force, Mind and Heart are forms of Supreme Brahman! Hubhopper is India's leading podcast creation platform. Star...

What is immortality? Knowing that “ Truth ” itself is " Immortality "! Freedom from all fears is " Immortality "! Fear of death, fear of poverty, fear of insecurity, fear of pain and sorrow, fear of losing a near one, fear of unknown, beyond these fears lies " immortality ". Why do we love our spouse, parents or children? We love our spouse, parents and our children not because we love them rather...

My dear friends and listeners, it’s been a while I could upload any new episode. The reason being multiple, but here I am with a new story from the Upanishads. Before I begin, my earnest request to you to follow, subscribe, like, share and download my podcast. It will immensely help me to keep going and provide you with these contents. Also please do write to me at my email address arghyathinks@gm...

Podcast Credits - The Concept, Script, Narration and Audio Design: Arghya Goswami ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Credits, Acknowledgements and Source Contents Source content collected from various books on Upanishads such as “Messages of...

Today I will be telling you a story from Chaandogya Upanishad. It is featured in the 8th Khanda of the book, and it is about 3 young well versed scholars named Pravahana Jivala, Silaka Salavat and Chaikitayana Dalbhya. This is a story which involves a deep curiosity amongst these 3 young men. Our Vedic rishis, sages and scholars always regarded experience or anubhava to be the paramount, next they...

Today’s episode is named - Proud Balaki! This story is featured in BU Chapter 2, Section 1 and features one of the greatest kings of India - Ajaatashatru. He was also known as Kunika and was son of Bimbisara. He was a contemporary to both Bhagwaan Mahavira and Gautama Buddha. I hope you all must be knowing about Bhagwaan Mahavira and Gautama Buddha!  As a result he is referenced in both Jain and B...

Episode 12 - What the thunder said? Da-Da-Da ================================================================================================================ My dear listeners and friends, today I am going to move away from Yagnavalkya’s adventures and tell a new story from Brihaadaaranyaka Upanishad. The reason why I am doing this is for a purpose! I want to bring in some variety to my storytelli...

Dear listeners, from the last 3 episodes of my podcast, you have been listening to Yagnavalkya’s debates in the King Janaka’s Symposium. You heard the debates of Ashwala, Aartbhaaga with Yagnavalkya in part 1, then followed by debates of Bhujyu, Usasta and Kahola with Yagnavalkya in part 2. Yagnavalkya was almost declared as a winner in the debates when he was challenged by Gargi Vaachaknavi in pa...

Yagnavalkya in King Janaka's Symposium ================================================================ This is the part 2 from the interesting events and debates which took place during the symposium arranged by King Janaka of Videha. We heard about Yagnavalkya’s decision to take home thousand cows with ten gold coins tied to their horns and how he was stopped and challenged by eminent scholars s...

Hello, my friends and listeners, today’s episode is very different from all other episodes. If you remember, I ask a few questions at the end of each episode. The listener with correct answers will be invited to my show, so today is the day where I will have the first ever - Listener’s hub episode. Srila Bhattacharya from California USA answered the questions correctly from the episode of Satyakam...