Upanishads · Gopāla-tāpanī Pūrva 36
॥
Devanāgarī
चन्द्रध्वजोऽगमद् विष्णोः परमं पदमव्ययं
Transliteration (IAST)
candradhvajo’gamad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padamavyayaṁ
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
चन्द्रध्वजःcandradhvajaḥCandradhvaja; the Moon-bannered
अगमत्agamatcame; attained
विष्णोः परमम् पदम्viṣṇoḥ paramam padamto the supreme abode of Viṣṇu; to the highest place of Viṣṇu
अव्ययम्avyayamundiminishing; imperishable
Translation
Candradhvaja came to the supreme, undiminishing abode of Viṣṇu.
Version
0ce7e3e0c3ec · published Jul 28, 2026, 2:22:17 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
A short line closing the example: the king spoken of in mantra 31 attained what mantra 32 called "the supreme abode of Viṣṇu".
One word is added: avyaya — "undiminishing, imperishable". It sets this abode apart from all others. The heavens reached by rite do diminish: their store runs out along with the merit, and from them one returns. Here it is said — it does not diminish.
The structure of the account is worth noting. First the teaching is given (the mantras on contemplation and japa), then the example of a man, then the Vedic testimony, then another's opinion and verses, and finally the outcome of the example. So the Upaniṣad shows that the road has been tested and not merely announced.
And the king's name is repeated. In a book where almost everything is said of gods and of sages, a man named twice by name is a sign that this road is open to men as well.