upaniṣad 1

upa-ni-ṣad (upa-ni-√sad), P. (pf. -ní-ṣedus) to sit down near to

• to approach, set about AV. xix, 41, 1 ŚBr. Kauś

 upaniṣad 2

upa-niṣád t f. (according to some) the sitting down at the feet of another to listen to his words (and hence, secret knowledge given in this manner

• but according to native authorities upaniṣad means 'setting at rest ignorance by revealing the knowledge of the supreme spirit')

• the mystery which underlies or rests underneath the external system of things (cf. IW. p. 35 seqq.)

• esoteric doctrine, secret doctrine, mysterious or mystical meaning, words of mystery &c. ŚBr. ChUp. &c

• a class of philosophical writings (more than a hundred in number, attached to the Brāhmaṇas but iiiśopanishad

• their aim is the exposition of the secret meaning of the Veda, and they are regarded as the source of the Vedānta and Sāṃkhya philosophies

• for the most important of the Upanishads, IW. p. 37 seq.)