Prasthanatrayi

Prasthanatrayi is a Sanskrit term meaning “the three sources” and denotes the three canonical texts that constitute the doctrinal core of Vedanta: the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras, and the Bhagavad Gita. Together they provide the epistemic and interpretive framework for Vedanta, with the Upanishads as primary Shruti, the Brahma Sutras as a concise sutra-synthesis, and the Bhagavad Gita as a strategic dialogue on dharma and liberation.

The Upanishads are a collection of philosophical discourses embedded in the Vedas, addressing Brahman (the ultimate reality) and Atman (the individual self) and laying the groundwork for Vedantic inquiry. The Brahma Sutras, attributed to Badarayana, compress essential Vedantic tenets into a set of aphorisms that require commentary to reveal their intended meaning. The Bhagavad Gita, within the Mahabharata, presents yoga paths (jnana, karma, bhakti) and a synthesis of Vedantic themes in a narrative form.

Different Vedanta traditions rely on the Prasthanatrayi and its bhashyas to articulate their metaphysical positions. Advaita Vedanta (as expounded by Adi Shankaracharya) interprets the trio through non-dualism; Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita offers qualified non-dualism; Madhva's Dvaita argues for dualism. The Prasthanatrayi remains a central reference point in Hindu philosophy and scholarly study, guiding both doctrinal discussion and spiritual practice.