केनोपनिषत्: The Kena Upanishad

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The present edition of Sri Shankaracharya’s Upanishad-Bhashyas, is intended for readers who wish to have at a moderate price the plain text of Shankara’s works unencumbered by commentaries and sub-commentaries but provided with such aids to study as a beginner is likely to need in appreciating the original.

Every volume of the series has been provided with an introduction, Short Notes on points of special interest, References to parallel passages in the other works of the great Acharya, a Summary of the Upanishad, and in Index.

It is hoped that the systematic division of the text into paragraphs with indication of important various readings, the tracing of quotations to their originals, and the close attention paid to typographical details, will all combine to make this edition specially convenient for the earnest reader.

The true Vedantic tradition and the traditional teaching was ascertained and re-established by Bhagavatpada Shankaracharya. However, owing to lapse of a long time, the reading of the texts got corrupted, some texts and commentaries have been forged in his name and his teaching too has been distroted and deviated from, which is natural considering the length of time. Pujya Shri Swami Satchidanandendra Saraswati, editor of this book, came in the tradition of Shankara like an another Shankara. He is comparable to Shri Shankaracharya in his brilliance of intellect and devotion of the heart. His deep devotion to Shankara and love for his teachings pure and uncorrupted made him to undertake this arduous penance which has blessed him with a great success. His life-long research of study and contemplation brought out many gems of which this Kenoanishad is one.

There are several editions of Kenopanishad-Bhashya, but Swamiji’s is a unique one, whose special features are mentioned in the General Preface of this book and the Prefatory Remarks.

Unlike Anandagiri whose gloss leaves out many things unexplained or the way of explaining not convincing, Swamiji foot-notes come to the readers help exactly where one needs very badly and the explanation is apt and illumining. Many a place, he refers to other places of the Bhashya of three Prasthanas in keeping with his dictum, “Let Shankara explain Shankara”. This is the best way of commenting and never deviates from Shankara. However, this was possible with only Swamiji who read some portion of Bhashya every day as parayana for a sixty long years of his 96 years of his life span.

I hope this edition serves the intended purpose of Shri Swamiji and helps the reader understand the pure teaching of Shankara which is the sure easy way to Moksha.