उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

22-26] INTRODUCTION 87 तस्मादज्ञानहानाय संसारविनिवृत्तये । ब्रह्मविद्याविधानाय प्रारब्धोपनिषत्त्वियम् ॥ २५ ॥ 25. The Upanishats ¹ are, therefore, ² commenced in order to teach the Knowledge of Brahman so that Ignorance might be removed and transmigratory ex- istence might for ever come to an end.³ सदेरुपनिपूर्वस्य क्विपि चोपनिषद्भवेत् । मन्दीकरणभावाच्च गर्भादेः शातनात्तथा ॥ २६ ॥ 26. The word ‘Upanishat’ is derived from the root ‘sad’⁴ prefixed by two particles, ‘Upa’⁵ and ‘ni’⁶ and followed by the suffix ‘Kvip’. So, that⁷ which loosens the bondage of birth, (old age), etc., (enables a man to approach Brahman) and destroys birth, (death), etc., is called Upanishat.⁸ ¹ Upanishadic texts are meant. ² As independent of actions right knowledge produces liberation. ³ This verse states the main conclusion of the Chapter. ⁴ This root has three meanings, (a) to slacken, (b) to move and (c) to destroy. ⁵ Near. ⁶ Certainly. ⁷ The Knowledge of Brahman. ⁸ In the primary sense, the books are so called in a secondary sense only.