Upaniṣads · Gopāla-tāpanī Uttara 24
॥
Devanāgarī
यत्र विद्याविद्ये न विदामो विद्याविद्याभ्यां भिन्नो
विद्यामयो हि यः स कथं विषयी भवति इति
Transliteración (IAST)
yatra vidyāvidye na vidāmo vidyāvidyābhyāṁ bhinno
vidyāmayo hi yaḥ sa kathaṁ viṣayī bhavati iti
Palabra por palabra
SánscritoIASTSignificado
यत्र विद्याविद्ये न विदामःyatra vidyāvidye na vidāmaḥwhere we know neither knowledge nor ignorance; where vidyā and avidyā are unknown to us
विद्याविद्याभ्याम् भिन्नःvidyāvidyābhyām bhinnaḥHe is other than knowledge and ignorance; different from vidyā and from avidyā
विद्यामयः हि यःvidyāmayaḥ hi yaḥHe who is made of knowledge; the one woven of knowing
सः कथम् विषयी भवतिsaḥ katham viṣayī bhavatihow should He become possessed of objects; in what way does He become an owner of objects
इतिitithus; so
Traducción
There, where we know neither knowledge nor ignorance, He is other than both knowledge and ignorance; and He who is made of knowing — how should He become possessed of objects?
Versión
3a8d4b504b9a · publicado 28 jul 2026, 14:30:24 UTC
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The mantra rises a step higher. Until now He who is within was separated from the elements and their qualities; now He is separated from the very pair "knowledge and ignorance".
This continues the thought of the Śvetāśvatara, where it is said: in the imperishable Brahman both are hidden — vidyā and avidyā — and He who rules them is other than they. The distinction matters: ignorance is not God's opponent, and knowledge is not He Himself; both are states He disposes of.
"Made of knowing", vidyā-maya: not "having knowledge" but consisting of it. Hence the question: how can He whose nature is consciousness itself become viṣayin — possessed of objects, an owner of them?
The answer is implied: in no way. Possession of objects is the trait of one who lacks something; fullness reaches out for nothing.
And here lies the answer to the cowherd women's perplexity about Kṛṣṇa: His pastimes are not the getting of pleasure. He who is bliss itself cannot "receive" it from outside; therefore He is called a brahmacārin for all His closeness with those who love Him.