The History of Indian Literature c8.252.3

c8.252.3

for though several passages from it are quoted in the Brahma-Sútra of Bádaráyaṇa (from which its priority to the latter at least would appear to follow), they may just as well have been borrowed from the common source, the Yajus. It is, at all events, a good deal older than Śaṁkara, since he regarded it as Śruti, and commented upon it. It has recently been published, together with this commentary,\* by Dr. Roer, in the *Bibliotheca Indica*, vol. vii.; see also *Ind. Stud.*, i. 420, ff.—The *Maitráyaṇa Upanishad* at least bears a more ancient name, and might perhaps be connected with the above-mentioned Maitra (Bráhmaṇa). Its text, however, both in language and contents, shows that, compared with the latter, it is of a very modern date. At present, unfortunately, I have at my command only the four first *prapáṭhakas*, and these in a very incorrect form,∗—whereas in Anquetil's translation, the Upanishad consists of twenty chapters,—yet even these are sufficient clearly to determine the character of the work. King Bṛihadratha, who, penetrated by the nothingness of earthly things, resigned the sovereignty into the hands of his son, and devoted himself to contemplation, is there instructed by Śákáyanya (see *gaṇa* ‘Kuñja’) upon the relation of the *átman* (soul) to the world; Śákáyanya communicates to him what Maitreya had said upon this subject, who in his turn had only repeated the instruction given to the Bálakhilyas by Prajápati himself.