Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is divided into three Kandas:
- Madhu Kanda,
- Yajnavalkya Kanda and
- Khila Kanda.
The first is further divided into six Brahmanas.
The first Brahmana describes the universe in the form of an
Aswa (horse) for Ashwamedha Yajna and its sacrifice as the manifestation of the
world.
The second Brahmana deals with the description of Prajapathi
as Mruthyu (death) and the manifestation of the world in the form of food for
Prajapathi. Prajapathi became the eater and everything he created became food
for him.
Yajnavalkya Kanda has two chapters. The first is divided
into nine Brahmanas. It tells the story of sage Yajnavalkya.
Khila Kanda has two chapters, the first of which has
passages on the Gayatri Mantra. The second is dedicated to Puthrotpathy
(progeny).