Upanishads · Gopāla-tāpanī Uttara 30
॥
Devanāgarī
तपित्वा तस्मै वरं ददौ
Transliteration (IAST)
tapitvā tasmai varaṁ dadau
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
तपित्वाtapitvāhaving performed austerity; having given himself to tapas
तस्मै वरम् ददौtasmai varam dadauHe gave him a boon; He granted him a blessing
Translation
And when he had performed austerity, He granted him a boon.
Version
8767ac49b1e9 · published Jul 28, 2026, 2:30:24 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
One line, and in it the whole order of relations between the creator and the Creating: first tapas, then the boon.
The verb tapitvā means "having performed tapas" — concentrated effort, a voluntarily borne hardship. In the accounts of the world's beginning Brahmā always precedes creation with austerity: he does not set to work until he has received.
Note that the boon is offered, not begged for: "He granted him a boon", that is, He said — ask. The initiative is with the Giver; the asker merely proved ready.
This matches what the book's first part said: Brahmā contemplated and praised for half his span before the Lord "awoke" to him. Here the same is said more briefly.
And next something unexpected happens: having received the right to ask for anything, the creator will ask neither for power nor for strength.