Mundaka Upanishad with Shankara’s Commentary
by S. Sitarama Sastri | 1905 | 19,662 words
The Mundaka Upanishad is a collection of philosophical poems used to teach meditation and spiritual knowledge regarding the true nature of Brahma and the Self (Atman). It is composed of the three main parts (mundakas): 1) The first of three parts expounds the science of higher and lower knowledge. 2) The second part describes the true nature of t...
Verse 1.1.4
तस्मै स होवाच । द्वेविद्ये वेदितव्ये इति ह स्म यद्ब्रह्मविदो वदन्ति परा चैवापरा च ॥ ४ ॥
tasmai sa hovāca | dvevidye veditavye iti ha sma yadbrahmavido vadanti parā caivāparā ca || 4 ||
4. To him he said “There are two sorts of knowledge to he acquired. So those who know the Brahman say; namely, Para and Apara, i.e., the higher and the lower.
Shankara’s Commentary:
Com.—Angiras said to Saunaka. What did he say? (He said) that there were two sorts of knowledge to he known. So indeed, do those who know the import of the Vedas and who see the absolute truth, say what these two sorts are; he says: Para is the knowledge of the Paramatman and Apara is that which deals with the means and the results of good and bad actions. It may be asked how, having to say what it was that Saunaka asked about in the question—“What being known one becomes omniscient,’ Angiras stated what he was not asked about, by the passage “there are two sorts of knowledge, etc.” This is no fault; for the reply requires this order of statement. Apara vidya is ignorance and that ought to be dispelled. When what is known is Apara vidya, i.e., the subject of ignorance, nothing can be known as it is. The rule is that after thus refuting the faulty theory, the true conclusion should be stated.