Kenopanishad with Bhasyam of Sri Sankaracarya

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Om sri gurubhyo namah

By the ever lasting blessings of my two great gurus, Pujya Dayananda Saraswati Swamiji and Swami Paramarthananda, Mandukya upanisad no longer seems to be my last book. Under the directions and blessings of Sri Paramarthananda Swamiji, I have translated this Kena Upanishad along with Sankaracarya's pada bhashyam. Even though Kenopanisad is small, it being a difficult nut to crack, both the teachings of Pujya Dayananda Saraswati Swamiji and Swami Paramarthananda, helped me very much in translating this Upanishad. And with the intention that who ever were not fortunate enough to hear their teaching, should not forego it, I have attempted to translate it to my best attempt.

As for the lay out of the book, it is almost same in all my books. As the upanisad has four khandhas, it first starts with general introduction and then goes into specific introduction of the khandhas and the respective mantras. Then each mantra is introduced by both, Pujya Dayananda Saraswati Swamiji and Swami Paramarthananda, followed by the transliteration of the mantra, anvaya both in Sanskrit and English, word to word meaning of the mantra and its summary in English by Paramarthananda Swamiji. That is followed by word to word commentary of Sankaracarya, known as pada bhasyam along with the Sanskrit words in brackets, so that English translation of the commentary stays true to his original Sanskrit commentary without a single word added or delated. While doing so, the Sanskrit words are not shown, as they will appear in vigraha and also certain compomises of the Sanskrit grammar rules were done. But as the purpose was to communicate in English the exact commentary of Sankarācārya, I hope the readers will understand and bear with it.

Besides Sankaracarya 's commentary, as still lot of explanation is needed, sometimes even to understand Sankaracarya commentary itself, and at the same time not wanting to interfere into his commentary, certain explanations and notes by either by Pujya Dayananda Saraswati Swamiji or by Swami Paramarthananda Swamiji have been added within brackets.

Every upanişad has a santhi pata. This upanişad also has got a santhi pata, which is chanted both by the teacher as well as the student. Generally all the Upanishads belonging to a particular Veda have the same santhi pata. Here also as Kena upanişad belongs to Sama Veda, it has the santhi pata which is common to all Sama Veda Upanishads. The idea of the santhi patah, is that we are aware that the success of our study depends upon two factors, both of which are extremely important. One factor being our effort, that is, we should have a value, sraddha for the upanişad. But that itself is not enough, we should have the grace of the Lord, because inspite of the effort, some times obstacles take place. Isvara anugrah is always there, but we have to tap it with prayer, a santhi patah as we tap sunlight into solar power by putting solar reflectors. So prayer, a santhi patah becomes extremely important for Isvara anugrah prapti to prevent any obstacles in the study of the sastra.