Question: As we all know that Upanishads were written to understand Vedas. Some great scholars also said that they are the branches of Vedas. My question is related to it. Yesterday in a library, I was reading some books and then I found a book written by Dr. Surendra KR Sharma. The name of the book was in Hindi **Kya baloo ki bhit par khada hai Hindu dharma (Does Hinduism stand on the wall of sand)**. On page no. 344.![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/80Bgp.png)

In this book he quoted Mundak Upanishad 1:1:5. I am giving the English translation by Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/7xHpY.png)

So my question I am confused now that **Why Vedas are called inferior in Upanishads?**

Answer: 
Vedic karma Kanda and Jnana Kanda are both far below spiritual experience.

> 
> They study the Vedas and discuss. **But they do not realize the Ultimate
> Reality just as a spoon does not know the taste of food**.
> 
> 
> The head
> carries the flowers, the nose knows the scent. The people study the
> Vedas. But, very few persons understand the same. **Not knowing the
> Reality of the self, a fool is infatuated by the sastras.**
> 
> 
> When the
> goat stands in the shed, the shepherd seeks for it in the well in
> vain. **The knowledge of the sastras is not competent to destroy the
> infatuation accruing from worldly affairs.**
> 
> 
> ….
> 
> 
> Having studied the
> Vedas and realized their essence **the wise man should leave all the
> sastras just as one desiring corn leaves the husk**.
> 
> 
> Just as one
> satiated with nectar has no use of food, **no one who is in search of
> Reality has anything to do with the sastras**.
> 
> 
> One cannot obtain release
> by reading the Vedas or the sastras. **Release comes from experience,
> not otherwise,** O son of Vinata.
> 
> 
> 

[**Garuda Purana, Dharma Khanda, Chapter XLIX**]
The Upanishad verse in question refers to the Vedas interpreted only ritualistically, as inferior. It does not negate the importance of Vedic knowledge itself. Because we see the same Upanishad talk about the Vedas in high regard.

2.1.6:

> 
> तस्मादृचः साम यजूंषि दीक्षा यज्ञाश्च सर्वे क्रतवो दक्षिणाश्च  
>   
> 
> From the Atman, came the Rk, Sama, Yajus, consecrations, yajnas, all holy works and holy donations.
> 
> 
> 

3.2.10:

> 
> क्रियावन्तः श्रोत्रिया ब्रह्मनिष्ठाः स्वयं जुह्वत एकर्षिं श्रद्धयन्तः ।  
> 
> तेषामेवैतां ब्रह्मविद्यां वदेत शिरोव्रतं विधिवद्यैस्तु चीर्णम् ॥  
>   
> 
> This Brahmavidyā should be taught only to those who regularly perform all the rituals (kriyāvanta), are well-versed in the Vedas (śrotriya), committed to Vedic learning (brahmaniṣṭha), who perform their own yajnas (svayam juhvata), and have truth-belief in the Atman.
> 
> 
> 

So clearly, the Upanishad feels that the prerequisite for learning about Brahman is to be completely leading a committed Vaidika lifestyle and a wise knowledge of Vedas. This shows that the Upanishad knew about the secret spiritual teachings in the Vedas hidden under symbolism. It only criticises the superficial application of Vedas.