Maitreyī
Contents1 of 5
  1. Two Wives
  2. What Would I Do With It?
  3. For the Sake of the Self
  4. The Drum, the Smoke and the Sea
  5. The Knower

Two Wives

The sage Yājñavalkya had two wives, Maitreyī and Kātyāyanī. Of the two, Maitreyī was one who spoke of Brahman.

He was the sage who, when King Janaka offered a thousand cows to the brahmin who best knew Brahman, had taken the cows and answered every brahmin who questioned him in the king's assembly. Now he was ready to take up another way of life. He would leave his home and go out as a wanderer.

Maitreyī, he said to her, I am about to leave this householder's life and go forth. Come, let me settle what I have between you and Kātyāyanī.