Prashna Upanishad 2.1

2.1

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This brāhmaṇafootnote{i.e. this Upaniṣad, occurring as the brāhmaṇa or Vedic explanation of the mantras of the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad.}, is begun as an elaborate reiteration of the subject matter already dealt with in the mantra portion.footnote{i.e. in the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad which presented the knowledge of the Self and talked of two kinds of knowledge—the higher and the lower. The latter relates to both rites and meditation. Of these two kinds of lower knowledge, the first is dealt with in the saṁhitā portion of the Vedas, the second is elaborated in the Second and Third Questions of this Upaniṣad. The First Question clarifies the result of both rites and meditation so as to generate a dislike for them. The Fourth Question is meant as an elaboration of the two verses in the Muṇḍaka starting with "As from a blazing fire" (Mu. II. i. 1). The Fifth Question expands the meditation stated in the verse, "Om is the bow" etc. (Mu. II. ii. 4). The Sixth Question is for elucidating the remaining portion beginning with, "From this emerges Prāṇa" (Mu. II. i. 3)—A.G.} The story in the form of questions and answers by the ṛṣis is meant for eulogising the knowledge. Knowledge is thus praised by showing that it can be acquired by those who are endowed with self-control and who undergo such disciplines as living in the teacher's house for a year under the vow of brahmacaryafootnote{Celibacy and study of the Vedas with a pious attitude.} and that it can be imparted by people who are almost omniscient like Pippalāda and others but not by a nondescript person. Moreover, brahmacarya and other disciplines become obligatory from their reference (in the story):

Sukeśā by name, and (known as) bhāradvājaḥ, (because he was) the son of Bharadvāja. Śaibyaḥ, the son of Śibi, who was Satyakāma by name. The son of Sūrya is Saurya, and Saurya's son is Sauryāyaṇi, the lengthening of i in Sauryāyaṇī being a Vedic licence; (and he was a) Gārgya, born of the family of Garga. Kausalya by name (and called) Āśvalāyana (because he was) the son of Aśvala. Bhārgava is one who was a scion of the line of Bhṛgu; and he was Vaidarbhi, being born in Vidarbha. Kabandhī by name; and he was Kātyāyana, a descendant (i.e. great grandson) of Katya, and had his great grandfather living, the suffix in the word being used to imply that sense. Te ha ete, these people who were such; were brahmaparāḥ, ever devoted to the inferior Brahman, mistaking that for the superior One; and they were brahmaniṣṭhāḥ, engaged in practices leading to Its attainment; and they were paraṁ brahma anveṣamāṇāḥ, intent on the search of supreme Brahman. What is that Brahman? That which is eternal and a thing to be realised. They, who searched for that Brahman with the idea, "For the sake of attaining It, we shall make efforts to our hearts content", approached a teacher for knowing about It, with the belief: "Eṣaḥ ha vai tat sarvaṁ vakṣyati, this one will certainly tell us everything regarding It." How did they go? Samit-pāṇayaḥ, with loads of faggot in hand; te ha, those people; upasannāḥ, approached; bhagavantaṁ pippalādam, the venerable Pippalāda, the teacher.