4.3 Purpose (Prayojana)

The attainment of moksha is the purpose or goal of the Upanishads. The self is not brahman - this knowledge is ignorance. This leads to the illusion - "I am individual soul who is the doer, enjoyer, subject to birth, death and disconnectedness". This illusion disappears due to removal of ignorance, and the removal of ignorance happens through the knowledge of the identity of the self and brahman. The self, which is of the form of brahman, immediately follows the removal of ignorance, and is called liberation. Having attained liberation, the entire stock of misfortune is depleted and supreme bliss is gained. This is also known by various names such as the attainment of the supreme self, attainment of Ishvara, attainment of the lord, realization of the self and so on. This is the goal of Vedantic instruction.