Upakosala Kâmalâyana dwelt as a Brahmakârin (religious student) in the house of Satyakâma Gâbâla. He tended his fires for twelve years. But the teacher, though he allowed other pupils (after they had learnt the sacred books) to depart to their own homes, did not allow Upakosala to depart.

In plain words: A young man named Upakosala lived as a student in Satyakama's house and tended his sacred fires for twelve years. Satyakama let the other students finish and go home, but he would not let Upakosala leave.