Prasna Upanishad (Sanskrit Text, Transliteration, Word-to-Word Meaning, English Translation and Detailed Notes) - A Most Useful Edition for Self Study

This Upanisad has derived its name from the six Prasnas or questions it contains. It belongs to the Atharvaveda and is probably of the PippaIdasakha. Sankara calls it a Brahmana complementary to the Mantra Upanisad, i.e. the Mundaka, which also belongs to the same Veda. There are six chapters in the Upanisad, and each begins with a question. The first question refers to the origin of the created beings, the second to the constituents of the human personality, the third to the nature and origin of Prana the fourth is about the psychological aspect of the human personality, the fifth about Pranava, and the sixth about the metaphysical principle in man. Like the Taittiriyopanisad, it also takes the reader gradually from the gross to the subtle principles of life, revealing one by one all the folds of Matter that enwrap the Atman. Moreover, in this Upanisad alone we find a clear mention being made of the creation originating from Matter and Energy.