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There is an Upanishad named Vajra-sūcika, which contains details about the nature of Brahmin Varna. It discusses the qualities of a Brahmin. I came to know about the existence of this Upanishad through this answer.

There is no universal agreement on the authorship of the scripture. The author can be either Shankaracharya or Aśvaghosa.

The Upanishad is often ascribed to the Brahmin Buddhist scholar Aśvaghosa, the celebrated author of the 'Buddha-charita' — a biography on Lord Buddha. Sometimes, it is also ascribed to Bhagavatpāda Shankaracharya, the great Advaitin teacher. These ascriptions are impossible to prove.

There are many writings about Adi Shankaracharya by some elite people in the lineage of Adi Shankaracharya. Does anyone attribute this scripture to the Adi Shankaracharya in their writings?

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    Only the 10 main upanishads have bhashyas, whether by Shankara or Ramanja or Madhwa-acharyas. Vajrasuchika is not one of those. for all i know, this whole upanishad could be made up. These Vajra stuff are usually propagated by liberals/shudras to denigrate true brahmins and/or equate themselves to brahmins. I agree that both birth and character are necessary for brahmin varna, but these guys think only character is necessary.
    – ram
    Commented Jul 24, 2022 at 22:50
  • @mar I got the doubt as Valmiki, who is Brahmin by birth is taken as an example for varna upliftment. I felt difficulty understanding it.
    – hanugm
    Commented Jul 24, 2022 at 22:55
  • @mar So, there are more chances that it is not a work of Shankaracharya.
    – hanugm
    Commented Jul 24, 2022 at 22:57
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    @ram yes orthodoxy is supreme!!!
    – Haridasa
    Commented Mar 20 at 16:06
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    Vajrasūcī by Aśvaghoṣa and Vajrasūcikā Upaniṣad aren't exactly the same. The former is more bigger and there's difference in the contents too. Actually, the former is based on the latter. In Advaitic tradition, Vajrasūcikā Upaniṣad is considered a prāmāṇya Upaniṣad i.e. it's accepted as a part of Veda, being within the 108 Upaniṣads of Muktikā canon. And so, this isn't authored by anyone exactly, for the Veda is aupauruṣeya, as per Bhāṭṭa Mīmāṁsā & Advaita Vedānta.
    – Bingming
    Commented Mar 20 at 16:34

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Muktila Upanishad.:

"Kena, Chāndogya, Āruṇi, Maitrāyaṇī, Maitreyī, Vajrasūcikā, (Yoga)-Cūdā-(Mani), Vasudeva, Mahat-Sannyāsa, Avyakta, Kuṇḍikā, Sāvitrī, Rudrākṣa, Jābāla, Darśana, and Jābāli,—these 16 Upaniṣads are of Sāmaveda and have the Śānti beginning with 'Āpyāyantu, etc'.

And about the 108 Upanishads Lord Rama says thus.:

These 108 (Upaniṣads) are able to do avay with the three Bhāvanās [of doubt, vain thought, and false thought], conferring Jñāna and Vairāgya, and destroying the three Vāsanās [of book-lore, world and body].

"The tvice-born—after learning the 108 Upaniṣads, together with the Śānti as prescribed both before and after from the mouth of a Guru well versed in the observances of Vedic knowledge and study—become Jīvanmuktas till the destruction of their Prārabdha; in course of time as Prārabdha is destroyed, they attain My disembodied salvation. There is no doubt of it. O son of Vāyu, these 108 Upaniṣads, which are the essence of all the Upaniṣads, and are capable of destroying all sins through their mere study, have been imparted by Me to you as a disciple. This science of the 108 Upaniṣads taught by Me, is an occult one, and will free persons from bondage, whether they read them with or without knowledge.

So, No, Adi Shankaracharya was not the author of Vajrasuchika Upanishadand like Vedas and any other Upanishad it's also aupauruṣeya.

I hope this clarifies all your queries. Prd..

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