Upanishads · Gopāla-tāpanī Pūrva 7
॥
Devanāgarī
ते होचुः ।
किं तद्रूपं किं रसनं कथं वा हो तद्भजनं तत् सर्वं विविदिषतामाख्याहीति
Transliteration (IAST)
te hocuḥ |
kiṁ tadrūpaṁ kiṁ rasanaṁ kathaṁ vā ho tadbhajanaṁ tat sarvaṁ vividiṣatāmākhyāhīti
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
ते होचुःte hocuḥthey said; then they asked
किम् तत् रूपम्kim tat rūpamwhat is that form; what is the form
किम् रसनम्kim rasanamwhat is tasting; what is rasana
कथम् वा होkatham vā hoand how; and in what manner
तत् भजनम्tat bhajanamthat service; the worship of Him
तत् सर्वम्tat sarvamall that; all of it
विविदिषताम्vividiṣatāmto us who wish to know; to those thirsting to understand
आख्याहिākhyāhitell; relate
इतिitithus; so
Translation
They said: what then is His form? what is tasting? and how is service to Him performed? Tell us all this — we wish to know.
Version
181b16850aa4 · published Jul 28, 2026, 2:22:17 PM UTC
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The sages take the previous mantra's answer apart: since it is said "contemplates, tastes, serves", one must know what to contemplate, what to taste and how to serve.
This is the very structure of the whole Pūrva-tāpanī. The first question will be answered by the mantras on the cowherd form beneath the wish-fulfilling tree. The second, by the exposition of the five-part mantra, which is what one "tastes". The third, by the definition of bhakti in mantra 14.
The word vividiṣatām, "to those wishing to know", is not in the text by accident: the askers call themselves thirsty. In the Upaniṣads the answer is given not to the curious but to the thirsty; the Śvetāśvatara ends with the warning not to give this knowledge to the unpacified.
Note the order too: the first question is about the form. Not about proofs, not about the nature of Brahman in general, but about how He looks. A book that calls Kṛṣṇa the supreme Deity begins with a portrait — and this is consistent: one can love only him whose face is known.