A renowned philosopher who was also the ruler of Benares in the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad.
- Even though Ajatashatru was a kshatriya warrior king and thus should have been receiving instruction from Gargya, Ajatashatru is notable for instructing Gargya, a brahmin priest, on the nature of Brahman, even though this was inappropriate by contemporary standards because Ajatashatru was a kshatriya warrior king and thus should have been receiving instruction from Gargya.
- Several instances in the Upanishads depict kshatriyas instructing brahmins, which is unusual.
Such incidents illustrate the essence of knowledge as understood in the Upanishads: it is attained by personal effort and realization rather than being bestowed by birth or social status.
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