Rishi Shaunaka question to Angiras
According to Mundkopanishad 1.1.3 , the rishi Shaunaka (शौनक) went to rishi Angiras (अङ्गिरस) to learn about the Brahmavidya (ब्रह्मविद्या) and he raised following question to rishi Angiras :
कस्मिन्नु भगवो विज्ञाते सर्वमिदं विज्ञातं भवतीति !
“O Lord, by knowing what, all this become known?”
Para and Apara Knowledge
Rishi Angiras said : –
द्वे विद्ये वेदितव्ये इति ह स्म यद् ब्रह्मविदो वदन्ति परा चैवापरा च ॥
“What the knowers of Brahman has said , there are two type of knowledge – Para (one who teaches about Brahman) and Apara (one who teaches about worldly right and wrong)”
तत्रापरा ऋग्वेदो यजुर्वेदः सामवेदोऽथर्ववेदः शिक्शा कल्पो व्याकरणं निरुक्तं छन्दो ज्योतिषमिति।
अथ परा यया तदक्षरमधिगम्यते ॥
Apara knowledge consists of , the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda, chanting, ritual, grammar, etymology, prosody and astronomy. Para knowledge teaches about the Akshara (Brahman)
