Kausitaki Brahmana Upanisad (With an anonymous unpublished Commentary in Sanskrit)

The present edition of the Kausitakibrahmana-Upanisad (K B U) contains a hitherto unpublished commentary. The edition of the Upanisad is unique in the sense that it is based on the Kerala manuscripts which invariably mark the number of each sentence. This is the case with the Kausitaki Brahmana also which I edited in 1968 and was published by Steiner Verlag, Wiesbaden. The commentary is based on the interpretation given by one Visnuveda Yati whose identity is not known. It is to be guessed that the metrical portions in the commentary published here are really the Vyakhyana of visnuveda Yati and the prose portions are the interpretation, of an author unknown. The Madras Ms. (MT 4502) is a copy of a palm leaf manuscript obtained from Kudalur Narayanan Nambuthirippad Nareri, Trithala, Kerala in 1924-25.

KBU opens with a narrative which leads to a discussion as to what happens to man after death. A king named Citra of Gangyayana gotra invites Aruni to officiate as a priest in a sacrifice. Instead of himself attending the sacrifice, Aruni deputes his son Svetaketu. On seeing Svetaketu, the king puts to him a philosophical question, but the latter honestly admits his in-ability to answer. The question sounds somewhat like this: 'O' son of Gautama, Is there any enclosure in the world where you would put me, or is there any path where you would put me ?