द्वे विद्ये वेदितव्ये
by मुण्डकोपनिषद् (Mundakopanishad)
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Shaunaka approaches Angiras with humility (carrying samidh/firewood) and asks about the single element knowing which the entire universe becomes known. The answer divides knowledge into Para Vidya (spiritual realization of the imperishable Akshara/Brahman) and Apara Vidya (the Vedas and auxiliary sciences). Three metaphors, the spider spinning its web, herbs growing on earth, and hair growing on the body, depict spontaneous creation from Brahman.
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Para and Apara Vidya
The Upanishad opens with Shaunaka carrying firewood (samidh) to Angiras, showing the humility of a true seeker. Angiras differentiates knowledge into Para Vidya, the spiritual realization of the imperishable Akshara (Brahman), and Apara Vidya, the Vedas and auxiliary sciences. This dual-learning system validates both material/scientific growth and spiritual realization.
Three beautiful metaphors describe how the cosmos emerges from Brahman without external help: just as a spider projects and retracts its web, herbs grow spontaneously from the earth, and hair grows on the human body, the universe is projected from and merges back into the Akshara.