Shukarahasya Upanishad

The text opens with sages asking Hindu god Brahma to teach them the Rahasya Upanishad.^[3] Brahma replies that he will recite to them what Vyasa, the compiler of the four Vedas, once learnt from Shiva when Vyasa asked for advice on educating his own son named Shuka.^[3] The text thereafter presents a mix of prose and verses as discourse between Shiva and Shuka, with Vyasa listening and Shiva stating that this Upanishad is in six parts.^[5][9]

The Pranava (Om) starts the text, consists of knowledge, poetic meter, seed, goal and the power of liberation. It is Brahman, which the text defines as truth, knowledge, infinity, eternal joy, plenitude, one, nondual, svaha to the head, vasat to the hair, and that which resides in the heart.^[8][9]

The path to liberation, states the Upanishad, is meditation on Mahāvākyas on self and Brahman,^[10] particularly listing these four sacred statements:

Tat symbolizes Paramahamsa and Vamadeva, Tvam symbolizes Vishnu and Vasudeva, and Asi symbolizes Ardhanarishvara and Nrisimha, asserts the text.^[18][19] All these, states the Upanishad, are within oneself as Jiva, and also in all living beings, everywhere.^[18][19] This, claims the text, is what the six limbs of the Vedas purport to teach.^[18][19]

The meditation must focus on the silent witness within, the Brahman, the unity and nonduality between them, states the Upanishad.^[20][21] The innermost self is self-luminuous and is to be known intimately, asserts the text, the truth and all one sees in the universe is Brahman, both are one, as the Ishvara within, and their essence is satcitananda.^[20][22] Meditation alone is the path, the knowledge does not come as a result of rites, rituals, reciting mantra or pilgrimage.^[23][22]

This knowledge, states Shukarahasya text, is to be heard from the guru, then thought about, meditated upon, till one fully comprehends it.^[23] One who comprehends the ultimate Brahman becomes Brahman, asserts the text.^[23] Shuka followed this guidance from Shiva, states the text, and became one with the universe, became detached from the world at a young age and began living the free liberated life of a Jivanmukta. Though initially Vyasa was affected by his son's separation, the entire universe and he rejoiced Shuka's monastic achievement.^[6][24][22]

• Atma Upanishad
• Jabala Upanishad
• Nirvana Upanishad
• Yogatattva Upanishad

• Deussen, Paul (1997). Sixty Upanishads of the Veda. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-1467-7.
• Hattangadi, Sunder (2000). "शुकरहस्योपनिषत् (Shukarahasya Upanishad)" (PDF) (in Sanskrit). Retrieved 3 March 2016.
• Mahadevan, T. M. P. (1975). Upaniṣads: Selections from 108 Upaniṣads. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-1611-4.
• AM Sastri, ed. (1921). The Samanya Vedanta Upanishads with the commentary of Sri Upanishad-Brahma-Yogin. Adyar library seriesno. 7 (in Sanskrit). Adyar Library (Reprinted 1970). hdl:2027/mdp.39015065237664.
• Tinoco, Carlos Alberto (1996). Upanishads. IBRASA. ISBN 978-85-348-0040-2.
• Warrier, AG Krishna (1967). Sāmanya Vedānta Upaniṣads. Adyar Library and Research Center. ISBN 978-8185141077. OCLC 29564526.