The Prashna Upanishad ,the Prashnopanishad is one of the earlier, "primary" Upanishads commented upon by Shankara. It is a Mukhya Upanishad, associated with the Atharvaveda. It figures as number 4 in the Muktika canon of 108 Upanishads.

In Sanskrit, "Prashna" means question. This text consists of six questions andShan their answers, hence the name. It is in the form of questions and answers. Except the first and the last questions, all other questions are actually a group of smaller sub-questions.

As narrated in the beginning of this Upanishad, Six pupils interested in knowing divinity or Brahman come to sage Pippalada and request him to clarify their spiritual doubts. Instead of answering immediately, Pippalada asks them to take up penance and Brahmacharya for one year at his place. Upon completion of one year, pupils ask the sage, then the sage answers their questions.

The pupils who asked the questions were:

The son of Bharadwaja, Sukesha
The son of Shibi, Satyakama
The descendant of Garga, Sauryayanee
The son of Ashwala, Kausalya
Bhargava of the country of Vidarbha belonging to Bhrigu Gotra
The son of Katya, Kabandhi

Each of them asks one question to Pippalada and answer(s) to it forms a chapter in the Upanishad.