Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad

The longest and probably oldest Upanishad, a collection of dialogues and debates, many featuring Yajnavalkya, on the Self, Brahman, death and rebirth.

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Tradition: Vedic & Upanishadic foundations · Vedanta
Difficulty: advanced
Attribution: Shukla Yajurveda (final part of the Shatapatha Brahmana); author unknown, with much teaching ascribed to the sage Yajnavalkya
Period · language: Generally considered one of the two oldest Upanishads; many scholars place its core around the 7th–6th centuries BCE, with later additions; dating is debated · Sanskrit
Themes: Self · Brahman · Karma and rebirth · Consciousness · Death · Debate

Why read this?

Much of what later Indian philosophy argues about is first stated here: the identity of Self and Brahman, the Self as the unseen seer, the 'not this, not this' method, and an early account of karma and rebirth. It is long and demanding, but its dialogues, especially between Yajnavalkya and his wife Maitreyi, are vivid.

The frame story

King Janaka of Videha hosts a debate and offers a prize of cows to the most learned; Yajnavalkya claims it and is questioned by a series of challengers, including the woman philosopher Gargi. Elsewhere, as he prepares to leave home for the renunciant life, Yajnavalkya teaches his wife Maitreyi, who asks whether wealth could make her immortal, that everything is dear for the sake of the Self.

Questions it answers

?What is the Self?
?Can the knower be known?
?What happens to a person at death?
?How can Brahman be described?

Key teachings

Editorial overview

I am Brahman

The text declares that whoever knows 'I am Brahman' becomes all this, one of the classical mahavakyas.

Not this, not this

Brahman or the Self is described as 'neti neti', not this, not this: no positive description captures it. This became a key method in Advaita.

Dear for the sake of the Self

Yajnavalkya tells Maitreyi that husband, wife, wealth and all things are dear not for their own sake but for the sake of the Self, which is to be seen, heard, reflected and meditated upon.

The unseen seer

The Self is the seer of seeing that cannot itself be seen, the knower that cannot be known as an object.

As one acts, so one becomes

An early formulation of karma links a person's desires, will and actions to their future state and rebirth.

The inner controller

Yajnavalkya describes the Self as the inner controller (antaryamin) dwelling within all things, which they do not know. Ramanuja makes this passage central.

Structure

6 chapters (adhyayas) in 3 sections (kandas)Traditionally the Madhu, Yajnavalkya (Muni) and Khila kandas
Two recensionsKanva and Madhyandina, with differences in numbering

Important passages

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References only — the passages themselves are not reproduced until the source text is ingested.

1.3.28The prayer to be led from the unreal to the real, darkness to light, death to immortality
1.4.10I am Brahman
2.3.6Brahman described as 'not this, not this'
2.4Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi
3.7The inner controller (antaryamin)
4.4.5As one acts and desires, so one becomes

Source not yet ingested

The text of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is not part of this version. What you see here is an editorial overview with passage references. No verses have been reproduced or invented. The architecture is ready for the text to be added.