---
type: Reference
title: "Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad"
description: "A Yajurveda Upaniṣad; the locus classicus linking bhakti and guru (6.23)."
darshana:
  - Vedānta
  - Bhakti (Vaiṣṇava Vedānta)
tags:
  - primary-source
  - sruti
  - bhakti
timestamp: "2026-06-25"
okf_version: "0.2"
license: "CC BY-SA 4.0"
---

# Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad

## What It Is

A theistic Upaniṣad of the Yajurveda. Its closing verse (6.23) is the earliest śruti locus joining devotion and the teacher: "to the one who has the highest devotion (parā bhakti) for God, and for the guru as for God, these truths declared shine forth." It also develops the personal, worshipable aspect of Brahman (Rudra-Īśvara) alongside the impersonal.

## Why It Matters Here

The śruti anchor for `bhakti`, `guru`, and `shraddha` — the verse that establishes bhakti as a Vedic, not merely Purāṇic, category. Cited where scriptural antiquity of devotion is needed.
