॥ चतुर्थोऽध्यायः ॥जानश्रुतिर्ह पौत्रायणः श्रद्धादेयो बहुदायी बहुपाक्य आस स ह सर्वत आवसथान्मापयांचक्रे सर्वत एव मेऽन्नमत्स्यन्तीति ॥ ४.१.१ ॥
In plain words
Jānaśruti, the great-grandson of Jānaśruta, was a man who gave with faith, gave much and cooked much. He had rest-houses built everywhere, thinking, "Everywhere men shall eat my food."
The commentators
Chāndogyopaniṣadbhāṣyam
वायुप्राणयोर्ब्रह्मणः पाददृष्ट्यध्यामः पुरस्ताद्वर्णितः । अथेदानीं तयोः साक्षाद्ब्रह्मत्वेनोपास्यत्वायोत्तरमारभ्यते । सुखावबोधार्था आख्यायिका, विद्यादानग्रहणविधिप्रदर्शनार्था च । श्रद्धान्नदानानुद्धतत्वादीनां च विद्याप्राप्तिसाधनत्वं प्रदर्श्यते आख्यायिकया—
जानश्रुतिः जनश्रुतस्यापत्यम् । ह ऐतिह्यार्थः । पुत्रस्य पौत्रः पौत्रायणः स एव श्रद्धादेयः श्रद्धापुरःसरमेव ब्राह्मणादिभ्यो देयमस्येति श्रद्धादेयः । बहुदायी प्रभूतं दातुं शीलमस्येति बहुदायी । बहुपाक्यः बहु पक्तव्यमहन्यहनि गृहे यस्यासौ बहुपा- क्यः ; भोजनार्थिभ्यो बह्वस्य गृहेऽन्नं पच्यत इत्यर्थः । एवं- गुणसंपन्नोऽसौ जानश्रुतिः पौत्रायणो विशिष्टे देशे काले च कस्मिंश्चित् आस बभूव । स ह सर्वतः सर्वासु दिक्षु ग्रामेषु नगरेषु आवसथान् एत्य वसन्ति येष्विति आवसथाः तान् मापयांचक्रे कारितवानित्यर्थः । सर्वत एव मे मम अन्नं तेष्वावसथेषु वसन्तः अत्स्यन्ति भोक्ष्यन्त इत्येवमभिप्रायः ॥
In plain words
The meditation on cosmic wind and vital breath as quarters of Brahman has already been explained. Now, the following text begins so that they may be directly meditated upon as Brahman itself. This narrative is introduced to make the teaching easy to grasp and to illustrate how spiritual knowledge is transmitted and received. Through this story, it is clearly shown that virtues like faith, charity, and humility act as essential foundations for attaining wisdom.
Jānaśruti signifies a descendant of Janaśruta, with 'ha' denoting traditional lore. His grandson is Pautrāyaṇa. He is called 'śraddhādeya' because whatever he offers to Brahmins and others is given with profound faith. He is 'bahudāyī' because it is his nature to give abundantly. He is 'bahupākya' because vast quantities of food are cooked in his home day after day for anyone seeking a meal. Possessing all these noble qualities, this Jānaśruti Pautrāyaṇa lived in a prominent land and era. He had guest-houses established everywhere across all directions, villages, and cities—places where travelers stay, which are known as rest-houses. His singular purpose was this: 'Let people staying in all those rest-houses partake of my food.'
Close to the Sanskrit
The contemplation of wind and breath as quarters of Brahman has been described previously. Now, the subsequent text is begun in order that they may be meditated upon directly as Brahman. The story is for the purpose of easy comprehension, and for showing the method of imparting and receiving knowledge. Furthermore, through this narrative is demonstrated how qualities such as faith, charity, and humility serve as means for attaining knowledge.
Jānaśruti means the descendant of Janaśruta. 'Ha' indicates tradition. The son's son is Pautrāyaṇa. That same person is 'śraddhādeya' because his gift is given to Brahmins and others preceded by faith. 'Bahudāyī' means one whose nature is to give abundant gifts. 'Bahupākya' means much food needs to be cooked every single day in his house; food is cooked in abundance in his house for those seeking it, meaning this. Endowed with such qualities, that Jānaśruti Pautrāyaṇa existed in a certain distinguished place and time. He indeed had rest-houses constructed everywhere in all directions, villages, and cities, where people dwell—such places are resthouses. His intention was precisely this: 'My food will be eaten by those staying in those rest-houses.'