The History of Indian Literature c8.473.1

c8.473.1

Of the Atharvopanishads proper the *Muṇḍaka-* and *Praśna-*Upanishads (21, 22) connect themselves most closely with the Upanishads of the older Vedas and with the Vedánta doctrine;¹⁷⁴ indeed, in the Vedánta-Sútra of Bádaráyaṇa reference is made to them quite as often as to these others. The *Muṇḍaka-Upanishad*, mostly in verse, and so called because it "shears" away, or frees from, all error, is very like the Káṭhakop. with regard to doctrine and style; it has, in fact, several passages in common with it. At the outset it announces itself as an almost direct revelation of Brahman himself. For Añgiras, who communicates it to Śaunaka, has obtained it from Bháradvája Satyaváha, and the latter again from Añgir,∗ the pupil of Atharvan, to whom it was revealed by Brahman himself. Shortly afterwards, Vedic literature is opposed, as the inferior science, to speculation. The former is stated to consist of the four Vedas, and of the six Vedáñgas, which are singly enumerated. Some manuscripts here insert mention of the *itihása-puráṇa-nyáya-mímáṅsá-dharmaśástráṇi*; but this is evidently a later addition. Such additions are also found in other passages of this Upanishad in the manuscripts.