Prashna Upanishad

"It has been stated in the introduction to the Mundaka Upanishad that both the Mundaka Upanishad and the Prashna Upanishad be long to the Atharva-Veda. They are complementary in their teachings: what is briefly taught in the one is expanded in the other.

The Mundaka Upanishad deals with the lower knowledge and the Higher Knowledge; the Prashna Upanishad, with prana, the symbol of the Lower Brahman and the goal of the lower knowledge. As in some other Upanishads, the instructions in the Prashna Upanishad are given in the form of dialogues between a teacher and his disciples. The practice of austerity, faith, and chastity of body and mind are emphasized as special qualifications on the part of pupils seeking deep spiritual knowledge."

- Swami Nikhilananda

"This Upanishad has derived its name from the six questions it contains. It belongs to the Atharva Veda and is probably of the Pippalada Sakha. Sankara calls it a Brahmana and complementary to the Mantra Upanishad of the Mundaka, which also belongs to the same Veda. There are six chapters in the Upanishad, and each begins with a question. The first question refers to the origin of the created beings, the second to the constituents of the human personality, the third to the nature and origin of Prana, the fourth is about, the psychological aspect of the human personality, the fifth is about Pranava, and the sixth is about the metaphysical principle in man. Like the Taittiriya Upanishad, it also takes the reader gradually from the gross to the subtle principles of Life, revealing one by one all the folds of Matter that enwrap the Atman. Moreover, in this Upanishad alone we find a clear-mention being made of the creation originating from Matter and Energy."

- Swami Sharvananda