Çré Caitanya Upaniñad

Excerpted by Çréla Bhaktivinoda Thäkura

from the text of the Atharva Veda

TEXT 1

hariù oà

atha pippalädaù samit-päëir bhagavataà brahmäëam upasanno

bhagavan me çubhaà kim atra cakñasveti

SYNONYMS

atha—then; pippalädaù—Pippaläda; samit-päëiù—with humbleness

(carrying firewood in his hands); bhagavantam—the very powerful; brahmäëam—Lord Brahmä;

upasannaù—approaching; bhagavan—O Lord; me—my; çubham—

auspiciousness; kim—what; atra—here; cakñasva—please describe; iti—thus.

TRANSLATION

Carrying firewood in his hands, Pippaläda humbly approached his

father, Lord Brahmä, and asked: “O my Lord, please tell me how I may attain an

auspicious life.”

TEXT 2

sa hoväca

bhüya eva tapasä brahmacaryeëa çaçvad ramasva mano vaçeti

SYNONYMS

saù—he; ha—indeed; uväca—replied; bhüyaù—greatly; eva—cer-tainly;

tapasä—by austerity; brahmacaryeëa—by celibacy; çaçvat—continually;

ramasva—please enjoy; manaù—mind; vaça—control; iti—thus.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahmä replied: “Be satisfied by remaining always celibate, and perform

austerities. Carefully control the activities of the mind. In this way you will attain an auspicious condition of

life.”

TEXT 3

sa tathä bhütvä bhüya enam upasadyäha—bhagavan kalau päpäc

channäù prajäù kathaà mucyerann iti

SYNONYMS

saù—he; tathä—in that way; bhütvä—becoming; bhüyaù—again; enam—him;

upasadya—approach; äha—said; bhagavan—O Lord; kalau—in the Kali-yuga; päpät—because of sin; channäù—covered; prajäù—the living entities;

katham—how; mucyeran—may become liberated; iti—thus.

TRANSLATION

Pippaläda followed these instructions, and after having become pure in his own heart and mind, he again

approached his father and asked: “ O my Lord, please tell me how the sinful living entities in the Kali-yuga may be

delivered.”

TEXT 4

ko vä devatä ko vä mantro brühéti

SYNONYMS

kaù—who; vä—or; devatä—worshipable deity; kaù—what; vä—or; mantraù—mantra; brühi—please speak;

iti—thus

TRANSLATION

Who should be the object of their worship, and what mantra should they chant in order to become delivered?

Kindly inform me.”

TEXT 5

sa hoväca

rahasyaà te vadiñyämi—-jähnavé-tére navadvépe

golokäkhye dhämni govindo dvi-bhujo gauraù

sarvätmä mahä-puruño mahätmä mahä-yogé

tri-guëätétaù sattva-rüpo

bhaktià loke kaçyatéti

tad ete çlokä bhavanti

SYNONYMS

saù—he; ha—certainly; uväca—replied; rahasyam—a secret; te—to you;

vadiñyämi—I shall speak; jähnavé—of the Ganges; tére—on the shore; navadvépe—at Navadvépa; goloka-

äkhye—known as Goloka Våndävana; dhämni—in the transcendental abode; govindaù—Lord Govinda; dvi-bhujaù—with two arms; gauraù—and a golden complexion; sarva-ätmä—the Supersoul who resides in the hearts of all living entities; mahä-puruñaù—the supreme enjoyer; mahä-ätmä—the Supersoul; mahä-yogé—in the form of a great devotee; tri-guëa-atétaù—beyond the jurisdiction of the three modes of

material nature; sattva-rüpaù—whose form is spiritual; bhaktim—pure

devotional service; loke—in this world; kaçyati—manifests; iti—thus; tat—that; ete—these; ç1okah—verses; bhavanti—

are.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahmä replied: Listen carefully, for I shall give you a confidential

description of what will happen in the Kalé-yuga. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda, the supreme

enjoyer, whose form is transcendental, who is beyond the touch of the three modes of material nature, and who is the all-pervading Supersoul residing in the hearts of all living entities, will

appear again in the Kalé age. Appearing as the greatest devotee, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will assume a two-armed form of golden complexion in His abode of Goloka Våndävana

manifested on the bank of the Ganges at Navadvépa. He will disseminate pure devotional service in the world. This

incarnation of the Lord is described in the following verses.

TEXT 6

eko devaù sarva-rüpé mahätmä

gauro rakta-çyämala-çveta-rüpaù

caitanyätmä sa vai caitanya-çaktir

bhaktäkäro bhakti-do bhakti-vedyaù

SYNONYMS

ekaù—one; devaù—Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarva-rüpé—

who appears in innumerable transcendental forms; mahä-ätmä—the Supreme Lord; gauraù—with a golden complexion; rakta—red; çyämala—black; çvetaù—white; rüpaù—with

forms; caitanya-ätmä— Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu; saù—He; vai—certainly; caitanya-çaktiù—the master of all

transcendental potencies; bhakta—of a devotee; äkäraù—in the form; bhakti-daù—granting devotional service;

bhakti—by devotional service; vedyaù—knowable.

TRANSLATION

The one Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the master of all

transcendental potencies, and who may be known only by devotional service, appears in innumerable transcendental forms. He has appeared with red, black, and white complexions, and He shall also appear in the golden form of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. He shall assume

the role of a perfect devotee, and He will teach the conditioned souls the path of

pure devotional service.

TEXT 7

namo vedänta-vedyäya

kåñëäya paramätmane

sarva-caitanya-rüpäya

caitanyäya namo namaù

SYNONYMS

namaù—I offer my respectful obeisances; vedänta—by the Vedänta philosophy; vedyäya—knowable; kåñëäya—unto Lord Kåñëa; parama-

atmane—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appears as the

allpervading Supersoul; sarva-caitanya-rüpäya—who is full of all

transcendental potencies; caitanyäya—unto Lord Caitanya; namaù namaù—I

offer my respectful obeisances.

TRANSLATION

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Sri Kåñëa, the all-pervading Personality of Godhead, who is

understood by the study of Vedänta philosophy. He is the master of all transcendental potencies, and He

appears as Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu.

TEXT 8

vedänta-vedyaà puruñaà puräëaà

caitanyätmänaà viçva-yonià mahantam

tam eva viditväti-måtyum eti

nänyaù panthä vidyate ‘yanäya

SYNONYMS

vedänta—by the study of the Vedänta philosophy; vedyam—knowable;

puruñam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; puräëam—the oldest; caitanya-ätmänam—Çri Caitanya

Mahäprabhu; viçva—of the material world; yonim—the primal cause;

mahantam—the great; tam—Him; eva—certainly; viditva—having understood;

ati—beyond; måtyum—death; eti—one goes; na—not; anyaù—another; panthäù—path; vidyate—exists;

ayanäya—for liberation.

TRANSLATION

One who understands that Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known by the study of Vedänta philosophy, who is the

original cause of the universe, and who is the oldest, the original person, crosses beyond this world of birth and death. This is the proper understanding of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and aside from this there is no other way for

one to achieve liberation.

TEXT 9

sva-näma-müla-mantreëa sarvaà hlädayati vibhuù

SYNONYMS

sva—of His own; näma—holy names; müla mantreëa—by the primary mantra; sarvam—the entire world;

hlädayati—will fill with transcendental bliss; vibhuù— the all-powerful

Supreme Lord.

TRANSLATION

Appearing in this golden form, the all-powerful Supreme Lord will fill the

entire universe with transcendental bliss by the chanting of His own holy names.

TEXT 10

dve çakti parame tasya hlädiné saàvid eva ca, iti

SYNONYMS

dve—two; çakté— potencies; parame—transcendental; tasya—of Him;

hlädiné—the potency of transcendental bliss; saàvit—the potency of

transcendental knowledge; eva—certainly; ca—also; iti—thus.

TRANSLATION

In this way the Supreme Lord manifests two of His transcendental potencies—His hläidiné çakti (the potency of

transcendental bliss) and saàvit-çakti (the potency of transcendental

knowledge).

TEXT 11

sa eva müla-mantraà japati harir iti kåñëa iti räma iti

SYNONYMS

saù—He; eva—certainly; müla-mantram—the mahä-mantra; japati—chants; hariù—Hari; iti—thus; kåñëah—Kåñëa; iti—thus; rämaù—Räma; iti—

thus.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Lord will chant a mantra consisting of the names Hari, Kåñëa, and Räma (the mahä-mantra: hare kåñëa hare kåñëa kåñëa kåñëa hare hare/ hare räma hare räma räma räma hare hare).

TEXT 12

harati hådaya-granthià väsanä-rüpam iti harih

kåñiù smaraëe tac ca ëas tad-ubhaya-melanam iti kåñëaù

ramayati sarvam iti räma änanda-rüpah

atra çloko bhavati

SYNONYMS

harati—removes; hådaya—within the heart; granthià—the knot; väsanä-

rüpam—based on material desires; iti—thus; hariù—Hari; kåñiù—attraction; smaraëe—within the mind; tat—that; ca—also; ëaù—transcendental pleasure; tat—of those; ubhaya—both syllables; melanam—the meeting; iti—thus;

kåñëaù—Kåñëa; ramayati—delights; sarvam—everyone; iti—thus; rämaù—Räma; änanda—of transcendental bliss;

rüpaù—the form; atra—in this connection; çlokaù— the verse;

bhavati—is.

TRANSLATION

These three names of the Supreme Lord (Hari, Kåñëa, and Räma) may be explained in the following way: (1) “Hari” means “He who unties [harati] the knot of material desire in the hearts of the living entities”; (2) “Kåñëa” is divided into the two syllables “kåñ” and “ëa.” ”Kåñ” means “He who attracts the minds of all living entities,” and “ëa” means “the supreme transcendental

pleasure.” These two syllables combine to become the name “Kåñëa”; and (3) “Räma” means “He who delights

[ramayati] all living entities,” and it also means “He who is full of transcendental bliss.” The mahä-mantra consists of the

repetition of these names of the Supreme Lord.

TEXT 13

mantro guhyaù paramo bhakti-vedyah

SYNONYMS

mantraù—mantra; guhyaù—confidential; paramaù—best; bhakti—

by devotional service; vedyaù—knowable.

TRANSLATION

The mahä-mantra (hare kåñëa hare kåñëa kåñëa kåñëa hare hare/ hare räma hare räma räma räma hare hare) is the best of all mantras. Although it is very difficult to understand this mahä-

mantra, it may be understood when one engages in pure devotional service of

the Supreme Lord.

TEXT 14

nämäny añöäv añöa ca çobhanäni, täni nityaà ye japanti dhéräs te vai mäyäm atitaranti nänyaù paramaà mantraà parama-rahasyaà nityam ävartayati

SYNONYMS

nämäné—names; añöau—eight; añöa—eight; ca—and; çobhanäni—spiendid; täni—these; nityam—continually; ye—those who; japanti—chant; dhéräù—sincerely endeavoring to make progress in spiritual life; te—they; vai—certainly;

mäyäm—the influence of material energy; atitaranti—cross beyond; na—not; anyaù— another; paramam—better; mantram—mantra; parama—

better; rahasyam—confidential knowledge; nityam—always;

ävartayati—repeats.

TRANSLATION

Those who seriously desire to make progress in spiritual life continually chant these sixteen splendid names of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and in this way they cross beyond the

bondage of continued material existence. The chanting of these holy names of the Lord is the greatest of all mantras, and it is the most confidential

of all secrets.

TEXT 15

caitanya eva saìkarñaëo väsudevaù parameñöhé rudraù çakro båhaspatiù sarve deväù sarväëi bhütäni sthävaräëi caräëi ca yat kiïcit sad-asat-käraëaà

sarvam

tad atra çlokäù

SYNONYMS

caitanyaù—Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu; eva—certainly; saëkarñaëaù—Lord Saìkarñaëa; väsudevaù—Lord Väsudeva; parameñöhé—Brahmä; rudraù—Çiva; çakraù—-Indra;

båhaspatiù—Båhaspati; sarve—all; deväù—demigods; sarväni—all;

bhütäni—living entities; sthävaräëi— unmoving; caräëi—moving; ca—and; yat—which; kiïcit—at all; sat—of all that is eternal; asat—and of all that is temporary; käraëam—the original

cause; sarvam—everything; tat—thus; atra—in this connection; çlokäù—the

following verses.

TRANSLATION

Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead who appears as Lord Saìkarñaëa and Lord Väsudeva. He is the original father of

Brahmä, Çiva, Indra, Båhaspati, all the demigods, and all moving and non-

moving living entities. He is the original cause of all that is temporary and all

that is eternal. Nothing exists separately from Him, and therefore He is

everything. He is described in the following verses.

TEXTS 16-18

yat kiïcid asad bhuìkte

kñaraà tat käryam ucyate

sat käraëaà paraà jiväs

tad akñaram itéritam

kñaräkñaräbhyäà paramaù

sa eva purusottamah

caitanyäkhyaà paraà tattvaà

sarva-käraëa-käraëam

SYNONYMS

yat—which; kiïcit—anything; asat—temporary; bhuìkte—enjoys; ksaram—the temporary material world; tat—that; käryam—manifest product; ucyate—is

described; sat—transcendental; käraëam—cause; param—supreme; jéväù—the individual living entities; tat—that; akñaram—eternal; iti—thus; éritam—is described; kñara—the temporary; akñaräbhyäm—and the eternal; paramaù—above; saù—He;

eva—certainly; puruña-uttamaù—the Supreme Person; caitanya-äkhyam—named Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu;

param—the supreme; tattvam—truth; sarva—of all; käraëa—causes;

käraëam—the cause.

TRANSLATION

This material world is temporary, whereas the individual living entities who try to enjoy matter are eternal and superior to it. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is superior to both the temporary material energy and the eternal living entities. Lord Caitanya

Mahäprabhu is this Supreme Person, the Absolute Truth, the original cause of all

causes.

TEXT 19

ya enaà rasayati bhajati dhyäyati sa päpmänaà tarati sa püto bhavati, sa tattvaà jänäti, sa tarati çokaà, gatis

tasyäte nänyasyeti

SYNONYMS

yaù—one who; enam—Him; rasavati—loves; bhajati—worships; dhyäyati—meditates upon; saù—he; päpmänam—sins; tarati—crosses over; saù—he;

pütaù—pure; bhavati—becomes; saù—he; tattvam—the Absolute Truth;

jänäti—understands; saù—he; taraté—

crosses beyond; çokam—lamentation; gatiù—the supreme goal; tasya—by Him; äste—is attained; na—not; anyasya—by another; iti—thu

TRANSLATION

One who worships the Supreme Lord, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, with devotion and always remembers Him becomes free from all sins and completely pure. Easily understanding the truth about the Personality of Godhead and becoming free from all material lamentation, such a devotee attains the supreme goal of life, which is unattainable by those averse to the Supreme Lord, Çré

Caitanya Mahäprabhu.