Upaniṣads
- Language:
- English
- Status:
- Selection or partial work
- Authorship:
- Anonymous or composite
- Condition of the text:
- No scanning noise detected (automatic measure over the whole text, not checked by hand)
- Extent:
- ~19,400 words · 92 passages
Cite this work
- APAUpanishads. (n.d.). The Upanishads [Upaniṣads]. Digital reproduction: SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/upanishads/the-upanishads
- MLAUpanishads. The Upanishads [Upaniṣads]. Digital reproduction, SigPhi, https://sigphiai.com/en/works/upanishads/the-upanishads.
- ChicagoUpanishads. The Upanishads [Upaniṣads]. Digital reproduction, SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/upanishads/the-upanishads.
Reference to the edition that SigPhi reproduces: SigPhi is its digital reproduction, not its publisher. The edition's year is not in the metadata (hence "n.d."), and the translator appears only when recorded.
What it is about
The Upanishads.
Context and history
The end of the Vedas and the beginning of Indian philosophy: dialogues and poems from between the eighth and third centuries BC, moving from ritual to the question of what lies behind everything. Brahman, atman and 'thou art that' come from here. Schopenhauer said they had been the consolation of his life and would be of his death.
Editorial context, not a citable source: unlike the passages of the work itself, these statements cannot be checked against the corpus.
Yama then told him that fire-sacrifice, the beginning of all the worlds; what bricks, how many and how laid for the altar. Nachiketas repeated all as it was told to him. Then Death, being pleased with him, again said: XVI The great-soured Yama, being well pleased, said to him (Nachiketas): I give thee now another boon. This fire (sacrifice) shall be named after thee. Take also this garland of many colours. XVII He who performs this Nachiketa fire-sacrifice three times, being united with the three (mother, father and teacher), and who fulfills the three-fold duty (study of the Vedas, sacrifice and alms-giving) crosses over birth and death. Knowing this worshipful shining fire, born of Brahman, and realizing Him, he attains eternal peace. XVIII He who knows the three-fold Nachiketa fire and performs the Nachiketa fire-sacrifice with three-fold knowledge, having cast off the fetters of death and being beyond grief, he rejoices in the realm of heaven. XIX O Nachiketas, this is thy fire that leads to heaven, which thou hast chosen as thy second boon. People will call this fire after thy name. Ask the third boon, Nachiketas.
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