Upanishads · Gopāla-tāpanī Uttara 23
॥
Devanāgarī
द्वा सुपर्णौ भवतो ब्रह्मणोशभूतस्तथेतरो
भोक्ता भवति अन्यो हि साक्षी भवति
भोक्ताऽभोक्तारौ वृक्षधर्मे तिष्ठतः
पूर्वो हि भोक्ता भवति तथेतरोऽभोक्ता भवति
Transliteration (IAST)
dvā suparṇau bhavato brahmaṇośabhūtastathetaro
bhoktā bhavati anyo hi sākṣī bhavati
bhoktā'bhoktārau vṛkṣadharme tiṣṭhataḥ
pūrvo hi bhoktā bhavati tathetaro'bhoktā bhavati
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
द्वा सुपर्णौ भवतःdvā suparṇau bhavataḥthere are two fair-winged birds; there are two of beautiful plumage
ब्रह्मणः अंशभूतःbrahmaṇaḥ aṁśabhūtaḥone is a portion of Brahman; a particle of the Highest
तथा इतरःtathā itaraḥand the other otherwise; and the second, differently
भोक्ता भवतिbhoktā bhavatiis the enjoyer; proves to be the one who enjoys
अन्यः हि साक्षी भवतिanyaḥ hi sākṣī bhavatithe other is the witness; the other is an eyewitness
भोक्ता अभोक्तारौbhoktā abhoktārauthe enjoyer and the non-enjoyer; the one who enjoys and the one who does not
वृक्षधर्मे तिष्ठतःvṛkṣadharme tiṣṭhataḥabide by the nature of the tree; stand at the tree
पूर्वः हि भोक्ता भवतिpūrvaḥ hi bhoktā bhavatithe first is the enjoyer; the one in front enjoys
तथा इतरः अभोक्ताtathā itaraḥ abhoktāand the other does not enjoy; the second does not eat
Translation
There are two fair-winged birds: one a portion of Brahman, the other otherwise. The one proves to be the enjoyer, the other the witness. The enjoyer and the non-enjoyer abide at one tree: the first eats, the other does not.
Version
8dd36c485d3b · published Jul 28, 2026, 2:30:24 PM UTC
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The most ancient image of the Veda is brought in — two birds on one tree — and brought in with an addition the other Upaniṣads do not have.
In the Muṇḍaka and the Śvetāśvatara it is said: two birds, inseparable friends, embrace one tree; one eats the sweet fruit, the other, not eating, looks on. Here the same, but the relation between them is named too: one of them is brahmaṇaḥ aṁśa-bhūta — "a portion of Brahman", His particle.
This is the exact formula of Vaiṣṇava Vedānta: the soul is neither an illusory reflection nor Brahman itself, but His eternal portion. The Gītā will later repeat it in the words "an eternal fragment of Mine".
The mantra's second half gives the key to the whole conversation with the cowherd women: "the enjoyer and the non-enjoyer abide at one tree". The difference between soul and Lord is neither of place nor of occupation — they are on one tree — but in this, that one enjoys and the Other is meanwhile the witness.
So too the riddle of Durvāsā is explained: the knower has risen to the position of the second bird and therefore did not call himself the enjoyer, though his body ate.