Upanishads · Gopāla-tāpanī Uttara 54
॥
Devanāgarī
मथुरायां स्थितिर्ब्रह्मन् सर्वदा मे भविष्यति ।
शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मवनमालावृतस्तु वै
Transliteration (IAST)
mathurāyāṁ sthitirbrahman sarvadā me bhaviṣyati |
śaṅkhacakragadāpadmavanamālāvṛtastu vai
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
मथुरायाम् स्थितिःmathurāyām sthitiḥabiding in Mathurā; standing in Mathurā
ब्रह्मन्brahmanO Brahmā; creator
सर्वदा मे भविष्यतिsarvadā me bhaviṣyatiwill always be Mine; will be Mine constantly
शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मśaṅkhacakragadāpadmawith conch, discus, mace and lotus; holding the śaṅkha, cakra, gadā and padma
वनमालावृतः तु वैvanamālāvṛtaḥ tu vaiand girt with a forest garland; wrapped in the vana-mālā
Translation
"Abiding in Mathurā, O Brahmā, will always be Mine — with conch, discus, mace and lotus, girt with a forest garland."
Version
d5efce513d07 · published Jul 28, 2026, 2:30:24 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The Lord Himself speaks, and speaks of the permanence of His presence: "in Mathurā My abiding will always be", sarvadā.
This answers Gāndharvī's question about the "place". A place is named — and named not as a temporary platform of descent but as an eternal abode.
And the form is described: conch, discus, mace and lotus — the four objects in Viṣṇu's hands; and along with them vana-mālā, the "forest garland" of flowers worn by cowherds. In one verse, the signs of sovereignty and a village adornment.
This joining is usual for the book. So too in the first part Kṛṣṇa was described as two-armed, with the sign of knowledge — and as the Lord with a forest garland.
The address "O Brahmā" recalls to whom this is said: Durvāsā's account to the cowherd women is a retelling of what Nārāyaṇa revealed to the creator. The following mantras will continue the Lord's speech and name who is dear to Him.