112 verses
Once, after they had passed the entire night with Him, the passionate girls of Vraja spoke to the cowherd boy Krsna, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and He also spoke to them.
The gopis said: To what brahmana should charity be given?
The gopis said: How will we cross the Yamuna's waters and approach Him, from whom great blessings will come?
Krsna said: Say the words Krsna, the brahmacari, and the Yamuna will give you a path.
By remembering Me a shallow person becomes deep. By remembering Me an impure person becomes pure. By remembering Me an impious person becomes pious. By remembering Me one full of material desires becomes desireless. By remembering Me a fool becomes learned.
After hearing these words, they meditated on Durvasa, and with these words crossed the Yamuna. they went to the very sacred asrama and bowed down before Durvasa Muni, the best of sages. they gave to the brahmanadelicious foods made with milk and ghee.
Pleased, he bathed, ate, blessed them ,and gave them permission to go.
They said: How will we cross the Yamuna?
He said: Meditate on me as a sage that eats only durvagrass, and the Yamuna will give you a path.
Gandharvi (srimati Radharani), the best among them, reflected for a moment.
She said: How is Krsna a brahmacari? How is this sage a person that eats only durva grass?
Accepting Her as their leader, the other girls became silent.
Durvasa Muni replied: Sound is contained within the element of ether, although sound and ether are different. Sound is contained within ether. This ether does not know. I am spirit. How can I be a materialistic enjoyer.
Touch is contained within the element of air, although touch and air are different. Touch is contained within air. This air does not know. I am spirit. How can I be a materialistic enjoyer?
Form is contained within the element of fire, although form and fire are different. Form is contained within fire. This fire does not know. I am spirit. How can I be a materialistic enjoyer?
Taste is contained within the element of water, although taste and waste are different. Taste is contained within water. This water does not know. I am spirit. How can I be a materialistic enjoyer?
Aroma is contained within the element of earth, although aroma and earth are different. Aroma is contained within earth. This earth does not know. I am spirit. How can I be a materialistic enjoyer?
It is the mind that remains among the senses and accepts them.
When spirit is everything how does one think? Where does one go? I am spirit, how can I be a materialistic enjoyer?
Your beloved Krsna is the original creator of the two kinds of bodies.
The two kinds of bodies are the gross (physical) and subtle (mental) bodies.
On the tree of the body are two birds. One is an expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is a witness. The other is an enjoyer. They are an enjoyer and a non-enjoyer. The first enjoys, and the second is Krsna.
In Him we do not find material so-called knowledge and ignorance. This ignorance and real knowledge are different. How can Krsna, who is full of real knowledge, become a materialistic enjoyer?
He who lusts after pleasure is lusty. He who does not lust after pleasures is not lusty.
Krsna, who is free from birth and death, who is unchanging, who cannot be cut, who stays by the Yamuna, who stays among the surabhi cows, who protects the surabhi cows, who stays among the cowherd boys, who stays in all the Vedas, who is glorified by all the Vedas, who has entered all living entities, and who controls all living entities, is your husband.
Gandharvi (Radha) said: Why has the Supreme Personality of Godhead taken birth among us as a cowherd boy? O sage, how do you know this about Krsna? What is His mantra? What is His abode? Why has He taken birth in Devaki's womb? Who is His elder brother Balarama? How is He worshipped? Why has the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is far above the world of matter, descended to this Earth?
The word Devaki here may also be interpreted to mean Yasoda. This is described in the Adi Purana: "Nanda's wife has two names: Yasoda and Devaki." Sri Sukadeva Gosvami describes Lord Krsna's birth in the following words (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.3.8): "Then the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, who is situated in the core of everyone's heart, appeared in the heart of Devaki in the dense darkness of night, like the full moon rising on the eastern horizon, because Devaki was of the same category as Sri Krsna."
He said: In the beginning only Lord Narayana existed. In Him the material worlds are woven as thread on a loom. From His lotus heart the demigod Brahma was born.
When Brahma performed severe austerities, Lord Narayana granted him a boon.
Brahma chose a question.
Lord Narayana granted his request.
Brahma said: Among Your many incarnations, which is the best, the one that makes humans and demigods happy, the one that, remembering Him, they become liberated from repeated birth and death? Why is this incarnation the best?
As on the summit of Mount Meru are seven cities that fulfil all desires, so on the Earth are seven cities that fulfil desires and grant liberation. Among them the city of Gopala Puri is directly the spiritual world.
The word ‘niskama’ here means liberation.
In this city the desires of the demigods and all other creatures are all fulfilled and everyone attains liberation.
Protected by My cakra, this city if Mathura, or Gopala Puri, stands in this world as a lotus stands in a lake.
Gopala Puri contains these forests: 1. the great forest of Brhadvana, 2. Madhuvana, the former residence of the Madhu demon, 3. Talavana, full of palm trees, 4. delightful Kamyavana, 5. great Bahulavana, 6. Kumudavana, full of lotus flowers and water lilies, 7. Khadiravana, full of Khadira trees, 8. Bhadravana, the favourite spot of Lord Balarama, 9. Bhandiravana, the great forest of Banyan trees, 10. srivana, the abode of the goddess of fortune, 11. Lohavana, the former residence of the demon Loha, and 12. Vrndavana, ruled by the goddess Vrnda-devi
The word ‘bhadra’ here means "the place where Balabhadra (Balarama) enjoys pastimes."
In these forests the demigods, human beings, Gandharvas, Nagas, and Kinnaras sing and dance.
The twelve Adityas, eleven Rudras, eight Vasus, seven sages, Brahma, Narada, five Vinayakas, Viresvara, Rudresvara, Ambikesvara, Ganesvara, Nilakanthesvara, Visvesvara, Gopalesvara, Bhadresvara, and 24 other lingas reside there.
These forests are divided into two groups: 1. Krsnavana, or Krsna's forests, and 2. Bhadravana, or Balarama's forests. Among these twelve forests some are sacred and others are most sacred.
Krsna's forests are: 1. Brhadvana 2. Madhuvana 3. Talavana 4. Kamyavana 5. Bahulavana 6. Kumudavana 7. Khadiravana and 8. Vrndavana. Balarama's forests are 1. Bhadravana 2. Bhandiravana 3. srivana, and 4. Lauhavana.
Krsna forests are the eight forests beginning with Vrndavana. Balarama's forests are 1. Bhadravana, 2. Srivana, 3. Lauhavana, and 4. Bhradvana.
There the demigods stay. there the perfect beings attained perfection.
In this connection the Gautamiya Tantra explains:
"In subtle forms the demigods and great sages reside in Vrndavana."
In this place are a Deity of Rama, a Deity of Pradyumna, a Deity of Aniruddha, and a Deity of Krsna.
In this way there are twelve Deities in the forests of Mathura.
The Rudras worship the first Deity, Brahma worships the second, Brahma's sons worship the third, The Maruts worship the fourth, the Vinayakas worship the fifth, the Vasus worship the sixth, the sages worship the seventh, the Gandharvas worship the eighth, the Apsaras worship the ninth, the tenth Deity is now invisible, the eleventh Deity has gone to His own planet, and the twelfth Deity is now on the Earth.
They who worship this Deity surpass death and attain liberation. They cross beyond the three-fold miseries of birth, old-age and death.
There are these verses: Lord Krsna, accompanied by His three potencies, and by Balarama, Aniruddha, Pradyumna, and Rukmini, stays in delightful Mathura Puri, which is worshipped by Brahma and the other demigods and protected by the conch, cakra, club, and sarnga bow. These four names are identical with the name om.
The names Balarama, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, and Krsna are identical with the name om.
One should think: I am spiritual, beyond material passion. One should think: I am Lord Gopaka's. In this way one attains liberation. He realizes his spiritual nature. He becomes a knower of spirit.
As a ray of sunlight is, in one sense, identical with the sun, in the same way, the individual living entity is, in one sense, identical with Lord Gopala.
Because since the beginning of creation He lovingly protects (alati) the conditioned souls (gopa), He is known as Gopala. Om tat sat. I am a spirit. I am a part-and-parcel of Krsna. My spiritual form is eternally full of bliss. Om.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is therefore known as Gopala.
With all one's heart one should think: I am Gopala's.
Lord Gopala is unmanifest, limitless, and eternal.
mathurayam sthitir brahmansarvada me bhavisyatisankha-cakra-gada-padma-vana-malavrtastu vai // Lord Narayana continued: O Brahma, decorated with a forest-flower garland, and holding a conch, disk, mace and lotus, I will reside eternally in Mathura.
O Brahma, he who with all his heart meditates on Me, whose form is the resting place of all forms, whose form is supremely powerful and splendid, whose form is wonderful, and who has no material form, goes to MY abode. Of this there is no doubt.
The word ‘visva-rupam’ here means "He in whom are all forms." Some texts give the word here as ‘cit-svarupam’, or "he whose form is spiritual." The word ‘param-jyotih’ means "powerful" or "splendid." The word ‘svarupam’ means "He whose form is extraordinary." The word ‘rupa-varjitam’ means "He who has no material form." The word ‘mat-padam’ means "My abode."
mathura-mandale yas tu jambudvipe sthito’pi vayo’rcayet pratimam mam casa me priyataro bhuvi // O Brahma, a resident of this earth planet who remains in the district of Mathura and worships Me as I appear in the form of the Deity, becomes very dear to Me.
You should always worship Me as Krsna in Mathura.
Four kinds of men worship Me.
The four kinds of worshippers describe here are the devotees of Lord Vasudeva, Lord Sankarsana, Lord Pradyumna, and Lord Aniruddha.
These four kinds of devotees are described by the Lord Himself in the Bhagavad-gita (7.16):
"Those who are distressed, inquisitive, wise and those in need of money, engage in My devotional service."
Following the devotional process prescribed for the age, intelligent devotees in this world worship Lord Gopala, who is accompanied by His elder brother Balarama and queen Rukmini.
I am unborn, eternal Gopala. I am eternal Pradyumna. I am Rama. I am Aniruddha. He who is intelligent worships Me.
Free from all impure desires, the residents of Krsnavana and Bhadravana worship Me, following the regulations of bhakti I Myself have spoken.
Even they who formerly rejected the principles of religion and were swallowed up by the age of Kali, may become devoted to Me, and also reside in Mathura.
Anyone who becomes My sincere devotee becomes very dear to Me. As dear as You and Your sons are, as dear as Siva and hid associates, as dear as the goddess of fortune, Laksmi.
Brahma said: How has the one Supreme Personality of Godhead become four Deities? How has the single sacred syllable om become many?
The Lord said to him: Before the material world was manifest, only the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is one without a second, existed. From Him came the impersonal Brahman. From that came the syllable om. From om came the mahat-tattva. From the mahat-tattvacame false-ego. From false-ego came the five tanmatras. From them came the elements. Om is covered by these things.
I am the sacred syllable. I am om. I am ageless, deathless, nectarean, the fearless Supreme Great. I am liberated. I am unchanging.
The eternal Supreme Personality of Godhead manifested Himself as the all-pervading universal form. In the same way the Lord, who is one without a second, by His transcendental potency expanded Himself into four.
That the Lord is the master of transcendental potencies is described in the sastras:
"The sages declare that eternal Lord Visnu is the master of all transcendental potencies."
The word "maya" may be interpretted to mean ‘mercy’. In this way the phrase "mayaya tu catustayam" means that the Lord expands into many forms in order to show mercy to the devotees.
The sacred syllable om consists of three letters: a, u and m. Balarama, the son of Rohini, is the letter a. Splendid Pradyumna is the letter u.
Intelligent Aniruddha is letter m. Lord Krsna, in whom the entire universe rests, is the ardha-matra letter (m), which completes the syllable om.
Rukmini is Lord Krsna's wife. She is the creator of the worlds and the root of material nature.
The Vedic literatures explain that the goddess of fortune appeared among the women of Vraja. Learned transcendentalists say that the Lord's potency is the syllable om.
The following statement is found in the Skanda Purana, Matsya Purana, and other sastras.
"Rukmini is the Lord's consort in Dvaraka and Radha is His consort in Vrndavana." The Rk-parisista explains: "Lord Madhava always stays by Radha's side. Radha always stays by Madhava's side."
Therefore, all-pervading Lord Gopala is the syllable om.
Learned transcendentalists declare that the syllable omis not different from the sacred syllable klim.
He whom meditates on Me as I appear in Mathura attains liberation.
In his mind one should meditate on Me standing on the blossomed eight-petaled lotus of the heart, My two feet marked with conchshell, flag and umbrella, My chest marked with srivatsa and splendid with the kautabha gem, My four arms holding the conch, cakra, mace, and sarnga bow, My arms decorated with armlets. My neck splendid with a flower garland, My head circled by a splendid crown, My ears decorated with glistening shark-shaped earrings, My form splendid and handsome, holding a flute and buffalo-horn bugle, and granting fearlessness to the devotees.
When the entire universe is churned (mathyate) by the churning-rod of spiritual knowledge, the butter produced is the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Mathura. That is why it is called Mathura.
In my heart I meditate on the material world with its eight dik-palas (protectors of the directions) as a blossomed lotus flower growing in the ocean of repeated birth and death.
The sun and moon are the splendour of My body. Golden Mount Meru is My splendid flag. Brahmaloka as My umbrella. The seven lower planetary systems are My feet.
I am marked with Srivatsa and Svarupa. Therefore the learned sages call me srivatsa-lanchana (marked with Srivatsa).
Aware of My supremacy, the sages declare that the splendour of the sun, moon, fire, and eloquent speech has come from My glittering Kaustubha jewel.
The four arms of My universal form are goodness, passion, ignorance, and false-ego. The five material elements are the conchshell I carry in the hand that is the mode of passion.
Childishness is said to be the cakra, the original illusory potency the sarnga bow, and the universe the lotus flower in the hand of the universal form.
adya-vidya gada vedyasarvada me kare sthita // The origin of ignorance is known as the club I always carry in My hand.
Religion, economic development, and sense-gratification are the splendid bracelets that eternally decorate the wrists of My universal form.
The neck, said to be the qualityless Brahman, is garlanded by the first unborn. O Brahma, your mind-born sons have elaborately described this garland.
The word "nirguna" here refers to Brahman. The "first unborn" here is the maya potency, splendid with knowledge and ignorance. The mind-born sons are the four Kumaras.
The sages say that My eternal form is the crown.
The two things above the changing material world are My two glittering earrings.
The two things are the spiritual paths of sankhya and yoga. This is confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam:
"Sankhya and yoga are the two shark-shaped earrings worn by the Supreme Person."
He who meditates in this way is eternally dear to me. He attains liberation. He becomes liberated. I give Myself to him.
This is confirmed in the Sruti-sastra:
"The devotees of the Lord become liberated from the grip of the illusory potency."
O Brahma, I have said all that will be about My two forms: one made of the modes of nature, and the other beyond the modes of nature.
The form made of the modes of material nature is the universal form, and the form beyond the modes of material nature is the auspicious transcendental form.
The form beyond the modes of material nature here is the Lord's two-armed and four-armed forms.
Brahma said: What are the ornaments worn by the Deities You have described? How do the Maruts, Rudras, Brahma, sons of Brahma, Vinayakas, twelve Adityas, Vasus, Apsaras, and Gandharvas worship them? Who is the Deity that has gone to His own abode? Who is the Deity now invisible? Who is the Deity the humans worship?
Lord Narayana said to him: these twelve unmanifested transcendental Deities are present on all planets, among all demigods and all human beings.
The word unmanifested here means unmanifested to material eyes.
As a Rudra among the Rudras, as a Brahma among the followers of Brahma, as a demigod among the demigods, as a human being among the humans, as the destroyer of obstacles (Ganesa) among the Vinayakas, as Surya Narayana among the Adityas, as a Gandharva among the Gandharvas, as an Apsara among the Apsaras, and as a Vasu among the Vasus, My form, which fulfils desires, is present even when it is invisible. Whether visible or invisible in this world, My form is always stays in My own abode.
When the Lord is invisible He is present in the form of hearing about Him. The Lord's abode is Vrndavana, which the Lord Himself describes in the Gautamiya Tantra: "This is beautiful Vrndavana, My transcendental abode. Its size is five yojanas. Its forest is my own form. The Yamuna River, where currents of nectar flow, also bears the name Susumna. In this place the demigods and sages always stay in subtle forms. I, who am the master of all the demigods, never leave this forest. yuga after yuga, I am sometimes visible and sometimes invisible here. Them My splendid, handsome form cannot be seen by material eyes."
My form is also present as the Deity of ignorance, the Deity of passion, and the Deity of Goodness.
My humanlike form, which is eternal and full of transcendental knowledge, is present in devotional service.
Om. Obeisances to the Supersoul, who is present in the life-breath. Om tat sat. Bhu Bhuvah and Svah. Obeisances, obeisances to Him, the Supersoul, who is present in the life-breath.
Here is the answer to the question "How should the Lord be worshipped?" Here the Lord reveals mantras to be used in His worship.
Obeisances to Sri Krsna, who is Govinda and Gopijanavallabha, Om tat sat. Bhur Bhuvah and Svah. Obeisances, obeisances to Him.
Om. Obeisances to the Supersoul, who is present in the apana air. Om tat sat. Bhur Bhuvah and Svah. Obeisances, obeisances to Him, present in the apana air.
Om. Obeisances to Krsna, who is Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha. Om tat sat. Bhur Bhuvahand Svah. Obeisances, obeisances to Him.
Om. Obeisances to the Supersoul, who is present in thesamana air. Om tat sat. Bhur Bhuvah and Svah. Obeisances, obeisances to Him, present in the samanaair.
Om. Obeisances to Sri Krsna, who is Sri Rama. Om tat sat. Bhur Bhuvah and Svah. Obeisances, obeisances to Him.
Om. Obeisances to the Supersoul, who is present in theudana air. Om tat sat. Bhur Bhuvah and Svah. Obeisances, obeisances to Him, present in the udana air.
Om. Obeisances to Krsna, the son of Devaki. Om tat sat. Bhur Bhuvah and Svah. Obeisances, obeisances to Him
Om. Obeisances to the Supersoul, who is present in thevyana air. Om tat sat. Bhur Bhuvah and Svah. Obeisances, obeisances to Him, present in the vyana air.
Om. Obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose original form is that of a cowherd boy. Om tat sat. Bhur Bhuvah and Svah. Obeisances, obeisances to Him.
Om. Lord Gopala is the Supersoul, present in the primordial material energy. Om tat sat. Bhur Bhuvah andSvah. Obeisances, obeisances to Him.
Om. Lord Gopala is the Supersoul, present in the senses.Om tat sat. Bhur Bhuvah and Svah. Obeisances, obeisances to Him.
Om. Lord Gopala is the Supersoul, present in the material elements. Om tat sat. Bhur Bhuvah and Svah. Obeisances, obeisances to Him.
Om. Lord Gopala is the Supreme Person. Om tat sat. Bhur Bhuvah and Svah. Obeisances, obeisances to Him.
That Krsna is the Supreme Person is confirmed by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gita (15.17):
"Besides these two there is the greatest living personality, the Lord Himself, who has entered into these worlds and is maintaining them."
Om. Lord Gopala is the Supreme Brahman. Om tat sat. Bhur Bhuvah and Svah. Obeisances, obeisances to Him.
This statement is confirmed by the Lord Himself in theBhagavad-gita (14.27):
"I am the basis of the impersonal Brahman."
Om. Lord Gopala is the Supersoul in the heart of all beings. Om tat sat. Bhur Bhuvah and Svah. Obeisances, obeisances to Him.
Om. Surpassing wakefulness, sleep, and deep sleep, Lord Gopala is beyond the transcendence of the impersonalists. Om tat sat. Bhur Bhuvah and Svah. Obeisances, obeisances to Him.
The one Supreme Personality of Godhead is hidden within everything. He is all-pervading. He is in everyone's heart. He witnesses everyone's activities, He lives in everyone's heart. He is the witness. He is consciousness. His is transcendence. He is beyond the modes of nature.
Obeisances to Rudra. Obeisances to Aditya. Obeisances to Vinayaka. Obeisances to Surya. Obeisances to Vidya-devi. Obeisances to Indra. Obeisances to Agni. Obeisances to Yama. Obeisances to Nirrti. Obeisances to Varuna. Obeisances to Vayu. Obeisances to Kuvera. Obeisances to Isana. Obeisances to Brahma. Obeisances to all the demigods.
The demigods are offered respect because they are representatives of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
After giving these most pious prayers to Brahma, who was rapt in meditation on the Lord's transcendental form, and after giving him the ability to create the universe, Lord Narayana disappeared.
As these instructions were heard from Brahma, Brahma's sons, and Narada, so I have spoken them. O Gandharvi (Radha), now You may go to Your own home. THUS ENDS THE GOPALA TAPANI UPANISAD
May Lord Krsna, who is Mura's enemy, who is the Supersoul, who appeared as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and who is merciful to Gajendra and King Prataparudra, always reside in my heart. In Mathura and Dvaraka, Krsna is a king and enjoys royal pastimes, while in Gokula He enjoys pastimes as a cowherd boy. He remains in the highest spiritual planet, Goloka Vrndavana, enjoying these pastimes.