Upnishad

SR No.: 007670
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Max Muller
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1879
Total Pages: 1835
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 35 MB

Page 98

INTRODUCTION.
lxxxix
best who have attempted to give complete translations of these ancient texts. It will be seen that my translation differs sometimes very considerably from those of my predecessors. Though I have but seldom entered into any controversy with them, they may rest assured that I have not deviated from them without careful reflection.
11.
THE TALAVAKÅRA-UPANISHAD. This Upanishad is best known by the name of Kenaupanishad, from its first word. The name of brâhmiupanishad (IV, 7) can hardly be considered as a title. It means 'the teaching of Brahman,' and is used with reference to other Upanishads also ? Sankara, in his commentary, tells us that this Upanishad forms the ninth adhyâya of a Brahmana, or, if we take his words quite literally, he says,
the beginning of the ninth adhyâya is "the Upanishad beginning with the words Keneshitam, and treating of the Highest Brahman has to be taught.”In the eight preceeding adhyâyas, he tells us, all the sacred rites or sacrifices had been fully explained, and likewise the meditations (upasana) on the prâna (vital breath) which belongs to all these sacrifices, and those meditations also which have reference to the fivefold and sevenfold Såmans. After that followed Gayatra-sâ man and the Vamsa, the genealogical list. All this would naturally form the subject of a Sama-veda-brâhmana, and we find portions corresponding to the description given by Sankara in the Khandogya-upanishad, e.g. the fivefold Saman, II, 2; the sevenfold Saman, II, 8; the Gayatra-saman, III, 12, 1.
Ånandagñana tells us that our Upanishad belonged to the Sakhå of the Talavakaras.
All this had formerly to be taken on trust, because no Bråhmana was known containing the Upanishad. Dr. Burnell, however, has lately discovered a Brahmana of the Sama-veda which comes very near the description given by Sankara. In a letter dated Tanjore, 8th Dec. 1878, he
See before, p. lxxxiii.
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