Upanishads · Gopāla-tāpanī Uttara 78
॥
Devanāgarī
हिरण्मयं सौम्यतनुं स्वभक्तायाभयप्रदं ।
ध्यायेन् मम प्रियो वेणुशृङ्गधरन्तु वा
Transliteration (IAST)
hiraṇmayaṁ saumyatanuṁ svabhaktāyābhayapradaṁ |
dhyāyen mama priyo veṇuśṛṅgadharantu vā
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
हिरण्मयम्hiraṇmayamgolden; golden-hued
सौम्यतनुम्saumyatanumwith a gentle form; whose body is mild
स्वभक्ताय अभयप्रदम्svabhaktāya abhayapradamgiving His devotee fearlessness; granting safety to the devoted
ध्यायेत्dhyāyetlet him contemplate; let him call to mind
मम प्रियःmama priyaḥMy beloved; dear to Me
वेणुशृङ्गधरम् तु वाveṇuśṛṅgadharam tu vāor else holding a flute and a herdsman's horn; or holding the veṇu and the horn
Translation
"Golden, of gentle form, giving His devotee fearlessness — let My beloved contemplate Him; or else holding a flute and a herdsman's horn."
Version
8c807fb1e9b0 · published Jul 28, 2026, 2:34:47 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The portrait is complete, and in the last words a second possibility opens: "or else — holding a flute and a herdsman's horn".
That is, the contemplator is offered a choice: the form of majesty, with weapons and a crown, or the form of Vraja, with a flute in hand. Both are named equally fit, and no reservation of preference is made.
In this the whole measure of the book is expressed. It does not abolish majesty for the sake of sweetness, nor subject sweetness to majesty; it gives both a place and leaves the choice to the heart of the contemplator. Vedānta will later call this the two modes of worship — by precept and by inclination.
In the middle of the mantra stands the description for whose sake, it seems, the whole portrait was composed: abhaya-prada, "giving fearlessness". The ornaments, the weapons and the flute — all of it is a description of Him in whose presence there is nothing to fear.
And note to whom the precept is addressed: mama priyaḥ, "My beloved". Not "pupil" and not "eligible one": the one bidden to contemplate is the beloved.