Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Upanishads

Rate this book
This new translation of The Upanishads is at once delightfully simple and rigorously learned, providing today’s readers with an accurate, accessible rendering of the core work of ancient Indian philosophy.
 
The Upanishads are often considered the most important literature from ancient India. Yet many academic translators fail to capture the work’s philosophical and spiritual subtlety, while others convey its poetry at the cost of literal meaning.
 
This new translation by Vernon Katz and Thomas Egenes fills the need for an Upanishads that is clear, simple, and insightful – yet remains faithful to the original Sanskrit.
 
As Western Sanskrit scholars who have spent their lives immersed in meditative practice, Katz and Egenes offer a unique perspective in penetrating the depths of Eastern wisdom and expressing these insights in modern yet poetic language.
 
Their historical introduction is suited to newcomers and experienced readers alike, providing the perfect entry to this unparalleled work.

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2015

124 people are currently reading
278 people want to read

About the author

Vernon Katz

4 books5 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
122 (37%)
4 stars
109 (33%)
3 stars
72 (22%)
2 stars
16 (4%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Profile Image for Anne.
4,745 reviews71.3k followers
May 13, 2025
No idea how good this translation is.
It's the one that was free if you're an Audible member. So if I had to guess, it's probably not top-notch. But all I wanted was a peek at what these were, not an in-depth study guide, as I'm about to hop into the audiobook, Hinduism for Dummies.

description

The biggest differentiating factor in these texts versus other religious texts that I've read so far has to do with the amount of meditation you should do and the transcendental "becoming one with the universe" kind of thing.
Most of what I listened to seemed to correlate with what I've found in other books. A lot of decent advice (don't let negativity in, for example) and a few oddball pieces of advice that probably made sense to the people back in the day.
The bit about having regular poops took me by surprise, not gonna lie. Then again, that's probably the most sage wisdom I've heard doled out in a while.
Profile Image for Riku Sayuj.
668 reviews7,683 followers
November 8, 2016
A nice and simple, perhaps simplistic, translation. Rooted firmly in Shakaracharya's commentary but failing to convey the depth and power of the actual Upanishads. Just good enough to wet your feet before the swim. Ideally should not be the first read - shortcuts are not good here.

The raw verses are presented with barely any commentary, let alone on the interpretations, but even on the translation itself. I bet the new reader would be quite suspicious halfway into the book whether this easy stuff is really the much hyped Upanishads.

Best presented verse:

The sacred syllable is the bow, the Self is the arrow,
Brahman is declared the target.
Undistracted, one should pierce it,
and like the arrow, become united with it.

shiva eva kevala
Profile Image for Edward Cheer.
519 reviews4 followers
May 30, 2017
It's been a while since I've read any religious texts. I had been meaning to read The Upanishads for a while, and after all this time, I honestly think this is one of the best religious texts I've read.

See, where Christianity has open hypocrisy within its massive Bible, and hits you over the head constantly with its morals and long-a** records for stuff you don't care about, and where The Koran drones on and on with dull poetry and very backwards morals, The Upanishads has some actually great insight for someone reading this even today.

The Upanishads (being one of the oldest religious texts in our world) was originally passed down from teacher to student orally, until someone decided to write down these teachings. Now, this could be the benefit of this new translation by Katz and Egenes, but these ancient texts were pretty easy to grasp and what I learned was truly incredible.

The Upanishads teach on unity with the Self and with the world around you. They teach on the nature of yoga and being at one with yourself through meditation and achieving greater knowledge. While the original source of these teachings is vague, it isn't very important because the teachings themselves are actually good. Instead of repressing your desires, The Upanishads teach on achieving and inner peace. Inner peace cannot be achieved through the ways that Christianity and Islam preach, but I certainly think it is attainable through Hinduism or Buddhism. As someone who practices meditation and yoga frequently, I've seen the results in greater number than the 17 years of having faith jammed down my throat from my parents.

The Upanishads is an essential for anyone questioning religion to read, but as it is an essential like The Bible or The Koran, this reading is much more enjoyable. It's short, sweet, and to the point. This translation in particular is excellently written and filled with so much wisdom in its pages that I'm going to buy myself a copy to keep handy and read over and over when I get the opportunity. There is a lot to this book. If you want to find out, just read it for yourself.
Profile Image for David.
920 reviews1 follower
June 25, 2019
Rating is of the translation and edition. The translation seems really good, smooth and clear. The ideas are of course quite deep, but this edition seems to hit the right balance of notes and bracketed Sanskrit words.

It includes 9 of the 11 first Upanishads. If it had included all 11, I'm sure I would have rated it 5 stars. The translators say they are working on the other two (which in fairness are apparently much longer) and I look forward to an edition that includes those two.
Profile Image for Cody.
604 reviews51 followers
Read
February 16, 2018
My first foray through The Upanishads was a thrilling one. Of course an initial read through, while yielding plenty of insights, is bound to just scratch the surface, so I plan on revisiting frequently for additional close reads. I appreciate this clean and crisp translation, as it allows the reader to focus on the deeper implications of the text (rather than the phrasing itself).
Profile Image for Dan.
745 reviews10 followers
March 22, 2023
Maharishi explains that upanishad, "sit down near," is the description of Unity Consciousness, because in that state everything sits down near the speaker, who perceives the infinite correlation between all things. In Unity Consciousness, everything is the Self, which the Upanishads describe as the living experience of seeing "all beings in the Self and the Self in all beings"...

The Upanishads describe the person aspiring for unity as "using the nature of his own Self (Atma) like a lamp to illumine the true nature of Brahman." The present translation of the Upanishads was undertaken with this reality in mind and heart.

from Introduction by co-translator Thomas Egenes

Some learned men speak of inborn nature,
some of time. They are wholly deluded.
It is the great power of God in the world
by which this wheel of Brahman is made to turn.

from Sixth Adhyaya of Shvetashvatara Upanishad

I can see the incensed Goodreads reader thinking to one's self: "Self, did this man give the holy scripture of The Upanishads TWO STARS? Is he some kind of Christian bigot?"

Actually, no, I really enjoyed the scripture within this book. What bothered me (and I'm well aware of the irony of this sentence in relation to this work) was the half-assed nature of the translation and commentary. Vernon Katz and Thomas Egenes are inept. They elect to translate some phrases into English (like "Atman") and then muddle up the scripture by leaving one doubtful whether the original script is using the same term or another or whether the translators are using a synonym for the same term in the original that is creating unnecessary ambiguity or confusion.

And so, that's why scholars invented endnotes. Only, somehow, Vernon and Thomas haven't a clue how to properly employ endnotes. Sometimes they note something, sometimes they don't. Sometimes a piece of scripture is glowing with ambiguity: Is this ambiguity in the original? Is it the translation? Is lack of context preventing a better understanding? In most scholarly translations, it's at this point the endnote comes to the rescue. Not so with Vernon and Thomas. As if it wouldn't be possible, some endnotes complicate matters further by quoting someone else without framing this elucidation within a proper context. For example, consider this stanza from the Katha Upanishad and its accompanying footnote:

Some souls enter a womb
to obtain a body,
others pass into something motionlessENDNOTE #48--
such according to his deeds, according to his knowledge.


ENDNOTE #48: Shankara mentions a tree as something motionless.

Right. That information was worthy of flipping to the back of the book to read. Then again, with wind, tree isn't exactly "motionless." Why not a rock, Shankara? Rock is fairly motionless. Is it because it has to be "alive"? When you realize even more esoteric, substantive stanzas receive no elucidation at all by Vernon and Thomas, it's frustrating.

I will search for a better translation and commentary than this one. Vernon and Thomas literally come across as idiots half the time. The dearth of substantive commentary makes their translation suspect. Even within this book the scripture is still rich and vibrant. I just need better guides.

This Self cannot be gained by instruction,
nor by the intellect, nor yet by much learning.
He is gained only by one whom he chooses.
To him, this Self reveals his own nature.

This Self cannot be gained by one who is weak or lazy,
nor by meditative practice that is faulty.
But for that man of wisdom who proceeds by proper means,
the Self enters the dwelling of Brahman.

from Second Khanda of Mundaka Upanishad
Profile Image for Gavin.
567 reviews43 followers
May 25, 2018
This is only three stars because audio was too deep in a subject that I have not touched and need words to absorb. Will be back soon.
Profile Image for MacK.
670 reviews223 followers
May 28, 2021
It can be hard to dig in and digest some of the more complex philosophical principles at play in a foundational text for culture far from your own.

I certainly wouldn't pretend that after reading this translation of the Upanishads, I now fully understand Hindu faith and philosophy. But I do feel more that the style, art, and ideas expressed in these translated verses go a long way to reflecting what has been so affecting and influential about the faith just in my own interactions with others over the years.

Credit to the translators for creating a text where the ways into understanding are not only accessible, but affecting in their own way.
Profile Image for Cody.
604 reviews51 followers
Read
September 8, 2021
A very lyrical translation, one that leads to some powerful, memorable phrases and ideas. The footnotes are also handy for clarifying context and illuminating some of the more complex ideas. All-in-all, I prefer Eknath Easwaran's rendering as that text, while less poetic, is much clearer and the introduction and chapter commentaries so helpful. But this is a laudable, moving, and very much welcomed addition for those of us that perennially return to the Upanishads.
Profile Image for Cy.
40 reviews
February 15, 2016
Tom and Vernon did a great job putting this one together. It's not a simple, dry, academic interpretation, it draws heavily on Shankaracharya's tradition, of which Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was a part. The translators were students of Maharishi, and lived his teachings, and thus were able to preserve the spirit of this sacred text.
115 reviews1 follower
August 8, 2016
The introduction includes reference to Maharishi but no mention if Transcendental Meditation. This is good new translation of an ancient and great spiritual text. I listened to the audiobook. I feel blissful listening to this text and I don't quite know why. i recommend this book. Who would want to remain ignorant of a great spiritual text? "Not I!" said the little red hen.
Profile Image for Jobie.
234 reviews2 followers
April 30, 2018
I’ve been reading this slowly and will continue to reread as I would and text considered a wisdom or sacred text.

As for the translation, this might be my favorite. I have two modern translations and I believe this to be my favorite.
Profile Image for Sabby.
299 reviews10 followers
July 10, 2018
I keep reminding myself what Dalai lama said that when it comes to finding peace through spiritually don’t get attached to just one method ( meaning one religion ). Upanishads helps me get over my trivial worries. It has some beautiful prayers in it.
Profile Image for Steve Llano.
100 reviews13 followers
March 9, 2017
Good translation, a really nice little volume, with great introductory material as well. Nice update, and a good volume to have if you don't have another translation you prefer for some reason.
Profile Image for AL.
232 reviews23 followers
November 15, 2020
An excellent modern translation. Always a joy to read.
Profile Image for Key.
25 reviews9 followers
March 7, 2024
Vernon Katz's THE UPANISHADS offers a comprehensive and accessible translation of these ancient Hindu scriptures. The book features Katz's clear and concise translation of the core Upanishads, along with insightful introductions and annotations that provide context and explanation for the reader. Katz avoids overly technical language, making the profound ideas of the Upanishads understandable to a wider audience.

Katz's translation is known for its readability, making the often-complex ideas of the Upanishads approachable for those unfamiliar with Sanskrit or Eastern philosophy. Katz provides valuable context for each Upanishad, explaining its historical background, key themes, and philosophical significance. The book includes translations of the ten principal Upanishads, offering a solid foundation for understanding the central tenets of Upanishadic thought.

While the book focuses on the core Upanishads, it doesn't include all 108 Upanishads, so readers seeking a more comprehensive collection might need to look elsewhere. While the introductions provide context, some readers might find them lacking in-depth philosophical analysis.

Vernon Katz's "The Upanishads" is an excellent resource for anyone seeking an introduction to these essential Hindu scriptures. The clear translation, informative commentary, and focus on core Upanishads make it a valuable resource for students, scholars, and general readers interested in exploring Hinduism, Eastern philosophy, and the profound questions they raise about life, death, and reality.

This book is highly recommended for those seeking an accessible and well-explained entry point into the Upanishads. However, readers seeking a more comprehensive collection or deeper philosophical analysis might want to explore other translations or commentaries alongside this one.
Profile Image for Bruce.
1,582 reviews22 followers
May 21, 2025
All important is being or a Being from which all the universe was created and which permeates everything, including the individual person. Each person has a self that is a small part of a universal and all-pervading Self, referred to as Brahman or God, the God who existed before and created all the other gods and worlds. To study and meditate on this will bring peace of mind, a lot of cattle (an indication of success in ancient India) and erase any fear of death that an individual might have. In the words of their translation:

Taittiriya Upanishad

You are the sheath of Brahman,
Covered by intelligence.

Into you yourself, O Gracious Lord, may I enter.
Do you yourself, O Gracious Lord, enter into me.
In you, O Gracious Lord, the thousand branched, am I cleansed – pages 110-111

Shvetashvatara Upanishad

Matter is perishable. The Self is immortal and imperishable.
The one God rules over the perishable and the Self.
By meditating on him, by striving toward him and in the end,
By becoming one with his nature, the illusion of the world vanishes.

On knowing God, all fetters fall off. With suffering destroyed,
Birth and death cease. By meditating on him, at the dissolution
Of the body there arises a third state, universal lordship,
Which is a state of oneness, where desires are filled. – page 148

Katz and Egenes translation of these ancient Sanskrit scriptures are in clear English with lots of endnotes when a Hindu reference or Deity is mentioned. They also provide a clear and useful introduction for those reading the Upanishads for the first time.
Profile Image for Keith.
942 reviews12 followers
Read
October 28, 2025
This is the first time I have read the Upanishads, so I can’t comment on the accuracy of Vernon Katz and Thomas Egenes’s English translation. The language is clear, simple, and accessible—as I have heard that the ancient text should be. The translators note in their short bios at the end of the book that they have both practiced meditation for years and hold the Upanishads in very high regard, having strived to live by its teachings.



***************************************************************************

[Image: Book Cover]

Citation:
Anonymous. (2015). The Upanishads: A new translation (Audiobook; T. Perkins, Narr., T. Egenes, & V. Katz, Trans.). Tantor Audio. https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Upanis...

SuperSummary Editorial Team. (2025, September 12). “The Upanishads Study Guide.” SuperSummary. www.supersummary.com/the-upanishads/s....

Title: The Upanishads
Author(s): Anonymous, Vernon Katz & Thomas Egenes (2015 translation)
Year: circa 9th century BC to 16th century AD
Genre: Nonfiction - Eastern Philosophy
Page count: 202 pages
Date(s) read: 10/8/25 - 10/10/25
Book 211 in 2025
***************************************************************************
1,646 reviews20 followers
March 20, 2019
Placeholder for random upanishads I read over the past couple weeks that I couldn’t find on their own on Goodreads:

Mahavakyopanishad: becoming one with Brahman and paramatman

Hamsopanishad: heart chakra activation for the common person and things you’re supposed to hear when it happens

Brahmavidyopanishad: the tridevs each are represented in a part of the syllable AUM. Meanwhile it compares atman and jiva.

Dhyanabindupanishad: Looking to do penance for sins? Do Kundalini. More about Jiva (which sounds like Prana so now I’m confused). A lot about humors; much in the vein of Foucault. About the colors of chakra petals. Apparently directing Kundalini down into the Muladhara can make you envision paramatman.
Profile Image for Robert Hamilton.
41 reviews8 followers
August 7, 2018
I would definitely award the text of the Upanishads five stars; however, for a novice like me, the introduction doesn't really contextualize these works sufficiently. It quotes liberally from the translation itself, more than is necessary, I think, but never uses any of those pages to answer basic fundamentals about Hinduism or its pantheon (neither is mentioned in the introduction—only Transcendental Meditation). I certainly learned a good deal from this presentation of the texts, but not enough to feel a serious command of it. I'm inspired to read more, though, because the verse and prose were incredibly beautiful and fascinating.
Profile Image for Thomas.
2,694 reviews
Read
May 23, 2022
The Upanishads. Translated by Vernon Katz and Thomas Egenes. Tarcher/Perigee, 2015.
I am not going to rate this book, because I do not know enough about the subject or the language to evaluate either the interpretation or the translation. I will just say that there are places near the end where the verse works for me, but I usually find myself in the condition of the fellow in this passage: “He who is not open to this field, what can the verses accomplish for him?”
Profile Image for Albert.
405 reviews
July 12, 2018
An enjoyable listen, but it probably deserves slower, careful study. In general, I find the Eastern traditions spell out deeper truths than their Western counterparts, but not always truths that can be applied practically. I liked the mereology of Brahman discussion (reminds me of large cardinal set theory). Overall, i liked the Taittiriya Upanishad best.
81 reviews7 followers
July 8, 2021
A very short introduction and some passages from Upanishads. The Upanishads are written in a peculiar way, as if someone was making grand pronouncements. But it's not easy to see what are they based on or what "morals" can be extracted from it. So it's a very different style from argumentative or from narrative/allegorical styles.
69 reviews
July 21, 2020
Enlightening Words

Inspirational and enlightening words from ancient texts where the author’s of these texts understood and lived the ultimate reality. Their words provide direct insight into the nature of the Self. Recommended reading for all who desire to find true happiness.
6 reviews
January 11, 2022
A few tidbits of revelation here and there and a few lovely verses but otherwise a quite forgettable tome containing many “truths” a spirit seeker may have already uncovered, though no doubt this was quite mind-blowing when translations emerged in the western world in the early 18th century.
Profile Image for Cherie.
3,941 reviews34 followers
January 14, 2023
Did I read the Upanishads? No, I read a translation of it. Did I fully understand the Upanishads? No, it was condensed to a single book. But I did get a sense of the stories, the energy, the beauty of the text.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.