A principal Upanishad of the Shukla Yajurveda

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद्

The great forest of teaching: Yajnavalkya silences a hall of sages, then tells his wife why he truly loves her.

Dialogues in this Upanishad

  • Not for the Sake of the Husband — Leaving for the forest, Yajnavalkya offers Maitreyi half his wealth. She asks: will it make me immortal? No. Then teach me that instead.
  • Gargi and the Warning — In a hall of sages, Gargi presses Yajnavalkya — on what is the world woven, and that, and that? — until he warns her head will fall off.
  • I Am Brahman — Aham brahmasmi. The Upanishad's boldest line: whoever truly knows 'I am Brahman' becomes the All — and not even the gods can stop it.

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