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This Upaniṣad speaks about Ātmā and Brahma and also about the paths for attaining thereto; but the exposition herein is rather direct and precise. The postulations in the Upaniṣad are presented in the form of instructions imparted to one शौनक || Śaunaka, a great householder, by Sage Angiras.

This Upaniṣad speaks about Ātmā and Brahma and also about the paths for attaining thereto; but the exposition herein is rather direct and precise. The postulations in the Upaniṣad are presented in the form of instructions imparted to one शौनक || Śaunaka, a great householder, by Sage Angiras.

Śaunaka approaches and asks Angiras, “Lord, what having known does all this become known?” <blockquote>भगवो, कस्मिन् विज्ञाते सर्वमिदं विज्ञातं भवति  || (4.1.1.3)'''</blockquote>

Śaunaka approaches and asks Angiras, Lord, what having known does all this become known?” <blockquote>भगवो, कस्मिन् विज्ञाते सर्वमिदं विज्ञातं भवति  || (4.1.1.3)'''</blockquote>

<blockquote>Bhagavo, kasmin vijñāte sarvamidaṃ vijñātaṃ bhavati || (4.1.1.3)</blockquote>

<blockquote>Bhagavo, kasmin vijñāte sarvamidaṃ vijñātaṃ bhavati || (4.1.1.3)</blockquote>

Rushi Angirasa declares that mere knowledge of Vedas is not adequate to elevate a man to higher levels of awareness culminating in immortality. The superior knowledge that teaches about the transcendent entity knowing which leads to attainment of immortality. <blockquote>यत्तदद्रेश्यमग्राह्यमगोत्रमवर्णंमचक्षुःश्रोत्रं तदपाणिपादम्  |</blockquote>

Rushi Angirasa declares that mere knowledge of Vedas is not adequate to elevate a man to higher levels of awareness culminating in immortality. The superior knowledge that teaches about the transcendent entity knowing which leads to attainment of immortality. <blockquote>यत्तदद्रेश्यमग्राह्यमगोत्रमवर्णंमचक्षुःश्रोत्रं तदपाणिपादम्  |</blockquote>

The 6th chapter of Chandogya Upanishad begins with a view to show that the Self in all is One. The dialogue between Svetaketu and Uddalaka is for the purpose of showing the gravity of the philosophy. After twelve years of Vedic studies Shvetaketu returns home thinking himself to be a ब्रह्मज्ञानिन् ''||'' brahma jnanin (knowledgeable about the Brahman). But Uddalaka seeing his son's pride asked him:  <blockquote>तमादेशमप्राक्ष्यः येनाश्रुतं श्रुतं भवति अमतं मतं अविज्ञातं विज्ञातं इति  || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.2 & 6.1.3)</blockquote>

The 6th chapter of Chandogya Upanishad begins with a view to show that the Self in all is One. The dialogue between Svetaketu and Uddalaka is for the purpose of showing the gravity of the philosophy. After twelve years of Vedic studies Shvetaketu returns home thinking himself to be a ब्रह्मज्ञानिन् ''||'' brahma jnanin (knowledgeable about the Brahman). But Uddalaka seeing his son's pride asked him:  <blockquote>तमादेशमप्राक्ष्यः येनाश्रुतं श्रुतं भवति अमतं मतं अविज्ञातं विज्ञातं इति  || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.2 & 6.1.3)</blockquote>

<blockquote>tamādeśamaprākṣyaḥ yenāśrutaṃ śrutaṃ bhavati, amataṃ mataṃ avijñātaṃ vijñātaṃ iti || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.2 & 6.1.3)</blockquote>

<blockquote>tamādeśamaprākṣyaḥ yenāśrutaṃ śrutaṃ bhavati, amataṃ mataṃ avijñātaṃ vijñātaṃ iti || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.2 & 6.1.3)</blockquote>

'''Meaning''' : “Dear son, did you ask for that instruction by which the unheard becomes heard, the unperceived becomes perceived and the unknown becomes known?"

'''Meaning''' : Dear son, did you ask for that instruction by which the unheard becomes heard, the unperceived becomes perceived and the unknown becomes known?"

What the father asks about is the knowledge of the ultimate principle that cannot be grasped by the ordinary faculties of cognition. The implication of the phrase ‘unheard becomes heard, etc.’ is that this particular knowledge cannot be acquired by physical faculties of cognition. It is also indicated here that knowledge of Vedas is fruitless if, with it, one is not able to know the ultimate principle.

What the father asks about is the knowledge of the ultimate principle that cannot be grasped by the ordinary faculties of cognition. The implication of the phrase ‘unheard becomes heard, etc.’ is that this particular knowledge cannot be acquired by physical faculties of cognition. It is also indicated here that knowledge of Vedas is fruitless if, with it, one is not able to know the ultimate principle.

[[Shvetaketu (श्वेतकेतु)|Shvetaketu]] was unaware of such a type of knowledge, though he had studied the Vedas properly. So he desired to know what kind of instruction that was. The father explains thus:<blockquote>“यथा सोम्यैकेन मृत्पिण्डेन सर्वं मृन्मयं विज्ञातं  | </blockquote>

[[Shvetaketu (श्वेतकेतु)|Shvetaketu]] was unaware of such a type of knowledge, though he had studied the Vedas properly. So he desired to know what kind of instruction that was. The father explains thus:<blockquote>यथा सोम्यैकेन मृत्पिण्डेन सर्वं मृन्मयं विज्ञातं  | </blockquote>

<blockquote>स्यात्वाचारम्भणं विकारो नामधेयं मृत्तिकेत्येव सत्यम्” || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.4)</blockquote>

<blockquote>स्यात्वाचारम्भणं विकारो नामधेयं मृत्तिकेत्येव सत्यम्” || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.4)</blockquote>

<blockquote>“yathā somyaikena mṛtpiṇḍena sarvaṃ mṛnmayaṃ vijñātaṃ syāt | </blockquote>

<blockquote>yathā somyaikena mṛtpiṇḍena sarvaṃ mṛnmayaṃ vijñātaṃ syāt | </blockquote>

<blockquote>vācārambhaṇaṃ vikāro nāmadheyaṃ mṛttiketyeva satyam” || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.4)</blockquote>

<blockquote>vācārambhaṇaṃ vikāro nāmadheyaṃ mṛttiketyeva satyam” || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.4)</blockquote>

<blockquote>“यथा सोम्यैकेन लोहमणिना सर्वं लोहमयं विज्ञातं  | </blockquote>

<blockquote>यथा सोम्यैकेन लोहमणिना सर्वं लोहमयं विज्ञातं  | </blockquote>

<blockquote>स्यात्वाचारम्भणं विकारो नामधेयं लोहमित्येव सत्यम्” || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.5)</blockquote>

<blockquote>स्यात्वाचारम्भणं विकारो नामधेयं लोहमित्येव सत्यम्” || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.5)</blockquote>

<blockquote>“yathā somyaikena lohamaṇinā sarvaṃ lohamayaṃ vijñātaṃ syāt | </blockquote>

<blockquote>yathā somyaikena lohamaṇinā sarvaṃ lohamayaṃ vijñātaṃ syāt | </blockquote>

<blockquote>vācārambhaṇaṃ vikāro nāmadheyaṃ lohamityeva satyam” || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.5)</blockquote>

<blockquote>vācārambhaṇaṃ vikāro nāmadheyaṃ lohamityeva satyam” || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.5)</blockquote>

<blockquote>“यथा सोम्यैकेन नखनिकृन्तनेन सर्वं कार्ष्णायसं विज्ञातं  |</blockquote>

<blockquote>यथा सोम्यैकेन नखनिकृन्तनेन सर्वं कार्ष्णायसं विज्ञातं  |</blockquote>

<blockquote>स्यात्वाचारम्भणं विकारो नामधेयं कृष्णायसमित्येव सत्यं एवं सोम्य स अदेशो भवतीति” || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.6)</blockquote>

<blockquote>स्यात्वाचारम्भणं विकारो नामधेयं कृष्णायसमित्येव सत्यं एवं सोम्य स अदेशो भवतीति” || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.6)</blockquote>

<blockquote>“yathā somyaikena nakhanikṛntanena sarvaṃ kārṣṇāyasaṃ vijñātaṃ syāt | </blockquote>

<blockquote>yathā somyaikena nakhanikṛntanena sarvaṃ kārṣṇāyasaṃ vijñātaṃ syāt | </blockquote>

<blockquote>vācārambhaṇaṃ vikāro nāmadheyaṃ kṛṣṇāyasamityeva satyaṃ evaṃ somya sa adeśo bhavatīti” || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.6)</blockquote>

<blockquote>vācārambhaṇaṃ vikāro nāmadheyaṃ kṛṣṇāyasamityeva satyaṃ evaṃ somya sa adeśo bhavatīti” || (Chan. Upan. 6.1.6)</blockquote>

'''Meaning''': ‘That instruction, my dear, is just as:

'''Meaning''': ‘That instruction, my dear, is just as: