Mundaka Upanishad — Chapter 1: Mundaka 1, Khanda 1: Two Kinds of Knowledge

9 verses

Verse 1

Brahma, the creator of the universe and the protector of the world, arose first among the gods. He taught the knowledge of Brahman, the foundation of…

Verse 2

That knowledge which Brahma taught to Atharva, Atharva in ancient times taught to Angir. He taught it to Satyavaha Bharadvaja, and Bharadvaja taught …

Verse 3

Shaunaka, the great householder, duly approached Angiras and asked: 'O Bhagavan, what is that by knowing which all this becomes known?'

Verse 4

To him he said: 'Two kinds of knowledge are to be known — so say the knowers of Brahman — the higher (para) and the lower (apara).'

Verse 5

Of these, the lower knowledge is the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, Atharva Veda, phonetics, ritual, grammar, etymology, meter, and astronomy. And …