Yagnavalkya had two wives, Maitreyi and Katyayani. Of these Maitreyi was conversant with Brahman, but Katyayani possessed such knowledge only as women possess. And Yagnavalkya, when he wished to get ready for another state of life (when he wished to give up the state of a householder, and retire into the forest),

In plain words: The sage Yagnavalkya had two wives, Maitreyi and Katyayani. Maitreyi cared about spiritual knowledge of Brahman (the ultimate reality), while Katyayani knew only ordinary things. Yagnavalkya was ready to leave home and live as a hermit in the forest.