Ashtavakra Learns His Father's Fate
For twelve years, Ashtavakra believed Uddalaka was his father and Shvetaketu his brother. Then Shvetaketu saw him on Uddalaka's lap, grasped him by the hand, and told him the truth: "This is not your father's lap." Weeping, Ashtavakra goes to his mother, who finally tells him everything about Kahoda's defeat and drowning at Janaka's court.
Uddalaka learned that Kahoda had been defeated by a suta and drowned in the waters. He told Sujata: "This must be kept a secret from Ashtavakra."
She kept the secret extremely well. Ashtavakra grew up knowing nothing. He thought Uddalaka was his father and Shvetaketu was his brother.
When Ashtavakra was twelve years old, Shvetaketu saw him seated on Uddalaka's lap. He grasped him by the hand and told the weeping boy: "This is not your father's lap."
The words pierced his heart and remained there, making him extremely unhappy. Weeping, he went home and asked his mother: "Where is my father?"
Sujata was extremely distressed. Scared of being cursed, she told him everything.
Having learned the truth from his mother, Ashtavakra spoke to Shvetaketu. "Let us go to King Janaka's sacrifice. It has been heard that his sacrifice has many extraordinary things. We will hear debates among the brahmanas. We will also eat excellent food. We will become wiser. The chants of the brahman are auspicious and pacifying."
Thus the maternal uncle and nephew went to King Janaka's prosperous sacrifice. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 429