Prashna Upanishad (prasnopanishad) is one of the older, "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 mean question. This book consists of six questions and their answers, hence the name. It is in the form of question-answers. except first and 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 ask questions of great spiritual importance. Pippalada asks them to take up penance of one year. Upon completion of penance, they again come to sage and ask questions, then the sage answers their questions.

The pupils who ask questions are:

The son of Bharadwaja the Sukesha
The son of Shibi the Satyakama
The desendant of Garga the Sauryayanee
The son of Ashwalayana the Kausalya
Bhargava of the country of Vidarbha
The son of Katya the Kabandhi
Each of them asks one question to Pippalada and answer(s) to it forms a chapter in the Upanishad.



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