The Gopatha Brahmana is associated with which Veda?

The Gopatha Brahmana is the only surviving Brahmana text attached to the Atharvaveda.

About the Gopatha Brahmana:

• It is a prose text that explains rituals and gives legends connected with sacrifices.
• It is divided into two parts: the "Purva" (first) Brahmana with 5 chapters (prapathakas) and the "Uttara" (later) Brahmana with 6 chapters.
• It is considered a relatively late Brahmana text.
• It stresses the importance of the Atharvaveda and of its priest, the "Brahman", who supervised sacrifices.
• It discusses the sacred syllable "Om" and its meaning.

Brahmanas of the four Vedas:

• Rigveda: Aitareya Brahmana and Kaushitaki (Shankhayana) Brahmana.
• Samaveda: Panchavimsha (Tandya) Brahmana, Shadvimsha Brahmana, Jaiminiya Brahmana.
• Yajurveda: Shatapatha Brahmana (Shukla Yajurveda), the largest and most important Brahmana; Taittiriya Brahmana (Krishna Yajurveda).
• Atharvaveda: Gopatha Brahmana.

About the Brahmanas:

• They are prose commentaries on the Vedic hymns and sacrifices.
• They explain the origin and meaning of rituals, often through stories.
• They were composed during the later Vedic period, roughly 900-700 BCE.
• They are important sources for the social, religious and political life of the later Vedic period.

Upanishads of the Atharvaveda:

• Mundaka Upanishad.
• Mandukya Upanishad: the shortest Upanishad, which explains the syllable "Om".
• Prashna Upanishad.

About the Atharvaveda:

• It has 20 books (kandas).
• It is named after the sage Atharvan.

Why not the other options?

• ✗The Rigveda has the Aitareya and Kaushitaki Brahmanas.
• ✗The Samaveda has the Panchavimsha Brahmana.
• ✗The Yajurveda has the Shatapatha and Taittiriya Brahmanas.