Indian Brahman Priesthood (before 7th cent. BCE), from The Upanishads

Background: The Upanishads, tells a story dating to the seventh century BCE or earlier of a young man struggling to determine his place in Indian Vedic society. Each text gives a glimpse of the practical and ideological forces that bound peoples and empires together in the first millennium BCE
1. Satyakâma, the son of Gabâlâ, addressed his mother and said: ‘I wish to become a Brahmakârin [religious student], mother. Of what family am I?’
2. She said to him: ‘I do not know, my child, of what family thou art. In my youth when I had to move about much as a servant [waiting on the guests in my father’s house] I conceived thee. I do not know of what family thou art. I am Gabâlâ by name, thou art Satyakâma [Philalethes]. Say that thou art Satyakâma Gâbâla.’
3. He going to Gautama Hâridrumata said to him, ‘I wish to become a Brahmakârin with you, Sir. May I come to you, Sir?’
4. He said to him: ‘Of what family are you, my friend?’ He replied: ‘I do not know, Sir, of what family I am. I asked my mother, and she answered: “In my youth when I had to move about much as a servant, I conceived thee. I do not know of what family thou art. I am Gabâlâ by name, thou art Satyakâma,” I am therefore Satyakâma Gâbâla, Sir.’
5. He said to him: ‘No one but a true Bráhmana would thus speak out. Go and fetch fuel, friend, I shall initiate you. You have not swerved from the truth.’ Having initiated him, he chose four hundred lean and weak cows, and said: ‘Tend these friend.’
He drove them out and said to himself. ‘I shall not return unless I bring back a thousand.’ He dwelt a number of years [in the forest], until the cows became a thousand.’