Praśna Upaniṣad
The Praśna Upaniṣad is attached to the Atharvaveda and takes the form of six questions posed by six students to the sage Pippalāda. The name “Praśna” means “question,” and the text systematically explores fundamental metaphysical and cosmological questions.
Overview
The text is structured as a series of six questions, each answered by Pippalāda in a separate khaṇḍa. The questions progress from cosmological inquiries about the origin of the universe to metaphysical questions about the nature of consciousness and liberation.
Content
The six questions address: (1) the origin of created beings, (2) the supremacy of prāṇa among the vital forces, (3) the origin and nature of prāṇa, (4) the nature of consciousness in waking, dream, and deep sleep, (5) the fruit of meditating on the syllable oṃ, and (6) the Puruṣa of sixteen kalās.
Significance
The Praśna Upaniṣad is valued for its systematic and pedagogical approach to philosophical inquiry. It provides one of the earliest systematic treatments of prāṇa (vital breath) and its role in sustaining life. The text also contains important teachings on the nature of Brahman and the path to self-realization.
Verification notes
Text verified against standard editions. The Praśna Upaniṣad is included in the Muktikā canon and is classified among the principal 10 or 13 Upaniṣads. It is traditionally attributed to the Atharvaveda school of Pippalāda.
- Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).