SRI VASUDEVA UPANISAD

[Paramananda das]

SRI VASUDEVA UPANISAD

1 Om. The great sage Narada bowed down before the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Lord Vasudeva and asked: O Lord, please
teach me the rules of Vaisnava tilaka. Please tell me of the
substances, mantras, places, and other things in connection with
it.
2 Lord Vasudeva said: To please Me, My devotees headed by the
demigod Brahma, wear Visnu-candana, which comes from the spiritual
world of Vaikuntha. Because every day the gopis anoint My limbs
with this candana and then again wash it away, it is also known as
gopi-candana. This sacred yellow candana, which holds within it My
cakra, and which is present at Cakra-tirtha, brings liberation (to
they who wear it).
3 In the following prayer one praises and bows down before gopi-
candana:
O gopi, O destroyer of sins, O candana manifested from Lord
Visnu’s transcendental body and marked with His cakra, I offer my
obeisances to you. Please give me liberation, for I am anointed
with you.
4 One should go to My Ganges, take some water, bring it to My
temple, and use it to make gopi-candana paste. Then, reciting
either the mantras that begin ‘deva avantu nah’ (May the Lord
protect us), or the Visnu gayatri, or my names beginning with the
name Kesava, one should apply gopi-candana tilaka.
5 A brahmacari or vanaprastha should, while chanting the Visnu-
gayatri or the holy names beginning with Krishna, apply this tilaka
to his forehead, chest, neck, and shoulders.
5 (A) Three times he should chant this mantra: O Lord who holds
the conch shell, cakra, and club in Your hands, O infallible Lord
who resides in Dvaraka, O lotus-eyed Lord Govinda, please protect
me, who have surrendered to You and taken shelter of You.
5 (B) After meditating in this way, a grhastha should, while
chanting the Visnu-gayatri or the holy names beginning with Kesava,
apply this tilaka with his ring finger to twelve parts of his body,
beginning with his forehead.
6 A brahmacari or grhastha should, while chanting the Visnu-
gayatri or the holy names beginning with Krishna, apply this tilaka
to his forehead, chest, neck and shoulders.
7 A sannyasi, while chanting the sacred syllable Om, should
apply this tilaka with his forefinger to his head, forehead and
chest.
8 As there are three Deities (Brahma, Visnu and Siva), three
vyahrtis (Bhuh, Bhuvah and Svah), three metres in the Vedic hymns,
three sacred fires, three times, three states of being, three
atmas, and three letters (a, u, and m) in the sacred syllable Om,
so Vaisnava tilaka has three parts, which correspond to the letters
in the sacred Om.
9 A person who chants the sacred syllable Om goes upward
(urdhva). That is why Vaisnava tilaka is called ‘urdhva-pundra.’
10 A paramahamsa should say the sacred syllable Om and place
Vaisnava tilaka on his forehead.
11 When he sees the Supersoul in his heart illumined with the
lamp of truth, the yogi attains the liberation of meeting Me.
12 Or the yogi may surrender his heart to the Lord in the tilaka
mark on his chest or to the Lord in the lotus of his heart.
13 In the heart is a flame reaching upwards, a flame like a
lightning flash from a dark cloud, or like a slender rice-plant.
In that flame the Supersoul stays.
14 In the lotus flower of the heart one should search for the
Supreme Lord, who is present as the tilaka mark. Gradually one
should become rapt in meditation on Me, Lord Hari, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, who is present as the Supersoul.
15 He becomes liberated who, with single-pointed concentration
meditates on Me, Lord Hari, the eternal Supersoul who stays in the
lotus flower of the heart. Of this there is no doubt.
16 By engaging in My devotional service one is able to understand
My transcendental form, which is spiritual, eternal, self-manifest,
filled with knowledge and bliss, and beyond the touch of the
material world of dualities.
17 I am Lord Visnu, the one Supersoul who stays in the hearts of
the many moving and unmoving creatures.
18 As oil stays in sesame seeds, as fire stays in wood, as butter
stays in milk, and as fragrance stays in flowers, so I, the
Supersoul, stay in the hearts of all living creatures.
19 By anointing one’s body with gopi-candana tilaka and by
meditating on the Supreme Lord, Hari, splendid like a
transcendental sun in the brahma-randhra, heart, and between the
eyebrows, one attains the Lord in His supreme abode.
20 His sannyasa danda raised, his semen flowing upwards, His
Vaisnava tilaka vertical, and his practice of yoga elevated, the
sannyasi, in this four ways ascending, goes to the highest
spiritual abode.
21 The final conclusion is that by serving Me with devotion one
attains the supreme perfection. Wearing gopi-candana tilaka, with
single pointed concentration one should always engage in My
devotional service.
22 Of all brahmanas and followers of the Vedas he is best who
wears Vaisnava tilaka of gopi-candana mixed with water.
23 If gopi-candana is not available one may use the earth from
the roots of the Tulasi plant. In order to attain the spiritual
goal that cannot be seen by materialistic men, a person who yearns
for liberation should wear Vaisnava tilaka every day.
24 One should apply Vaisnava tilaka using the sacred atriratri-
agnihotra ashes of the sacred syllable Om, the Visnu-gayatri, or
the mantras beginning with the words ‘Visnus trini pada.’
25 In this way one should apply Vaisnava tilaka with gopi-
candana.
26 A person who studies this Upanisad becomes purified of all
sins. Sinful thoughts do not arise in his mind. He attains the
results of bathing in all sacred rivers and lakes. He attains the
results of performing all yajnas. He is to be worshipped by all
the demigods. He attains unwavering devotion to Me, Lord Narayana,
the goddess of fortune’s husband. When his spiritual knowledge is
perfect he attains the liberation of meeting Lord Visnu. He does
not return to the world of birth and death. He does not return to
the world of birth and death.
27 Thus spoke Lord Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
28 One who studies this Upanisad certainly attains this. Om.
That is the truth. Thus the Upanisad.

[Paramananda das]

The Glories of Gopi-chandana Tilak
According to Vaishnava tradition, gopi-chandana, or the sacred soil from Dwaraka or Vrnadavan, is applied on the body in twelve places while reciting mantras to Lord Vishnu. This process purifies one's body, designating it as a temple of the Lord. Besides purification, the tilak also offers the wearer protection from ghosts, evil influences, bad dreams, accidents and many other things. It keeps one's mind calm and allows one to constantly remember Lord Krishna. The sacred dust of vrndavan is said to have touched the lotus feet of Sri Krishna's exclusive devotees and is worship able even by Sri Krishna himself.
The following story from the Garga Samhita describes the wonderful glories of the sacred mud known as gopi-chandana.
(From Garga Samhita, Canto Six, Chapter Fifteen )

Text 15 yasya sravana-matrena
karma-bandhat pramucyate
gopinam yatra vaso 'bhut
tena gopi-bhuvah smrtah

Simply by hearing about Gopi-bhumi, which is so named because the gopis resided there, one become free from the bondage of karma.

Text 16
gopy-angaraga-sambhutam
gopi-chandanam uttamam
gopi-chandana-liptango
ganga-snana-phalam labhet

In Gopi-bhumi gopi-chandana was manifested from the gopis' cosmetics. A person who marks his limbs with gopi-chandana tilaka attains the result of bathing in the
Ganga.

Text 17
maha-nadinam snanasya
punyam tasya dine dine
ngopi-chandana-mudrabhir
mudrito yah sada bhavet

A person who daily wears gopi-chandana tilaka attains the pious result of daily bathing in all sacred rivers.

Text 18
asvamedha-sahasrani
rajasuya-satani ca
sarvani tirtha-danani
vratani ca tathaiva ca
krtani tena nityam vai
sa krtartho na samsayah

A person who daily wears gopi-chandana tilaka attains the result of performing a thousand asvamedha-yajnas and a hundred rajasuya-yajnas. He attains the reusult of giving charity and following vows at all holy places. He attains the goal of life. Of this there is no doubt.

Text 19
ganga-mrd-dvi-gunam punyam
citrakuta-rajah smrtam
tasmad dasa-gunam punyam
rajah pancavati-bhavam

Twice as sacred as the mud of the Ganga is the dust of Chitrakuta. Ten times more sacred than that is the dust of Panchavati-tirtha.

Text 20
tasmac chata-gunam punyam
gopi-chandanakam rajah
gopi-chandanakam viddhi
vrndavana-rajah-samam

A hundred times more sacred is the dust of gopi-chandana. Please know that gopi-chandana is equal to the dust of Vrindavana.

Text 21
gopi-chandana-liptangam
yadi papa-satair yutam
tam netum na yamah sakto
yama-dutah kutah punah

Even if in the past he has committed hundreds of sins, if a person wears gopi-chandana tilaka, then Yamaraja cannot take him away. How, then, can Yamaraja's messengers touch him?

Text 22
nityam karoti yah papi
gopi-chandana-dharanam
sa prayati harer dhama
golokam prakrteh param

A sinner who daily wears gopi-chandana tilaka goes to Lord Krishna supreme abode, Goloka, which is beyond the world of matter.

Text 23
sindhu-desasya rajabhud
dirghabahur iti srutah
anyaya-varti dustatma
vesya-sanga-ratah sada

In Sindhu-desa there was a king named Dirghabahu. He was cruel and sinful and he was addicted to visiting prostitutes.

Text 24
tena vai bharate varse
brahma-hatya-satam krtam
dasa garbhavati-hatyah
krtas tena duratmana

While he was on the earth this cruel sinner murdered a hundred brahmanas and ten pregnant women.

Text 25
mrigayayam tu banaughaih
kapila-go-vadhah krtah
saindhavam hayam aruhya
mrgayarthi gato 'bhavat

One day he mounted a sindhu horse and went hunting. With a flood of arrows he accidentally killed with a brown cow in that hunt.

Text 26
ekada rajya-lobhena
mantri kruddho maha-khalam
jaghanaranya-dese tam
tiksna-dharena casina

One day, greedy to get his kingdom, with a sharp sword his angry minister killed him in the forest.

Text 27
bhu-tale patitam mrtyu-
gatam viksya yamanugah
baddhva yama-purim ninyur
harsayantah parasparam

Seeing him fallen to the ground and dead, the Yamadutas came, bound him, and, joking as they went, took him to the city of Yamaraja.

Text 28
sammukhe 'vasthitam viksya
papinam yama-rad bali
citraguptam praha turnam
ka yogya yanatasya vai

Seeing this sinner brought before him, powerful Yamaraja said to his scribe Chitragupta, "What is the proper punishment for him?"

Text 29
sri-chitragupta uvaca catur-asiti-laksesu
narakesu nipatyatam
nihsandeham maha-raja
yavac candra-divakarau

Sri Chitragupta said: O great king, he should be thrown into eight million four hundred thousand hells for as long as the sun and the moon shine in the sky.

Text 30
anena bharate varse
ksanam na su-krtam krtam
dasa-garbhavati-ghatah
kapila-go-vadhah krtah

On the earth he did not perform a single pious deed. He killed ten pregnant women. He killed a brown cow.

Text 31
tatha vana-mriganam ca
krtva hatyah sahasrasah
tasmad ayam maha-papi
devata-dvija-nindakah

He killed thousands of deer in the forest. He offended the demigods and the brahmanas. He is a great sinner.

Texts 32 and 33
sri-narada uvaca
tada yamajnaya duta
nitva tam papa-rupinam
sahasra-yojanayame
tapta-taile maha-khale sphurad aty-ucchalat-phene
kumbhipake nyapatayan
pralayagni-samo vahnih
sadyah sitalatam gatah

Sri Narada said: Then, by Yamaraja's order, the Yamadutas took that sinner and threw him into a terrible, eight-thousand mile wide cauldron of bubbling boiling oil in the hell of Kumbhipaka. The moment that sinner came to it, the boiling oil, which was as hot as the great fires at the time of cosmic devastation, suddenly became cool.

Text 34
vaideha tan-nipatanat
prahlada-ksepanad yatha
tadaiva citram acakhyur
yama-duta mahatmane

O king of Videha, as Prahlada was unhurt in the same situation, that sinner was not hurt by the boiling oil. Then the Yamadutas described that great wonder to noble-hearted Yamaraja.

Text 35 anena su-krtam bhumau
ksanavan na krtam kvacit
citraguptena satatam
dharma-rajo vyacintayat

Yamaraja and Chitragupta carefully reviewed the sinner's case and concluded that while he was on the earth the sinner had not for a moment performed even a single pious deed.

Text 36
sabhayam agatam vyasam
sampujya vidhivan nrpa
natva papraccha dharmatma
dharma-rajo maha-matih

Then Vyasadeva arrived in that assembly. Bowing down before Him, and carefully worshiping Him, saintly and noble-hearted Yamaraja asked Vyasadeva the following question.

Text 37
sri-yama uvaca anena papina purvam
na krtam su-krtam kvacit
sphurad-agny-ucchalat-phene
kumbhipake maha-khale asya ksepanato vahnih
sadyah sitalatam gatah
iti sandehatas cetah
khidyate me na samsayah

Sri Yamaraja said: When a certain sinner, who had never performed even a single pious deed, was thrown into the terrible boiling oil of Kumbhipaka, the oil suddenly became cool. Because of this my mind is now tortured with doubts.

Text 39
sri-vyasa uvaca suksma gatir maha-raja
vidita papa-punyayoh
tatha brahma-gatih prajnaih
sarva-sastra-vidam varaih

Sri Vyasadeva said: O great king, the intelligent sages, who have studied all the scriptures, know that the ways of piety, sin, and spiritual progress are very subtle and difficult to understand.

Text 40 daiva-yogad asya punyam
praptam vai svayam arthavat
yena punyena suddho 'sau
tac chrnu tvam maha-mate

Somehow or other, by destiny, this sinner did perform a pious deed, and by that deed he became purified. O noble-hearted one, please hear the story of this.

Text 41
kasyapi hastato yatra
patita dvaraka-mrdah
tatraivayam mrtah papi
suddho 'bhut tat-prabhavatah

That sinner died in a place where from someone's hand some gopi-chandana from Dvaraka had accidentally fallen. Dying in gopi-chandana, that sinner became purified.

Text 42
gopi-chandana-liptango
naro narayano bhavet
etasya darsanat sadyo
brahma-hatya pramucyate

A person who wears gopi-chandana tilaka attains a spiritual form like that of Lord Narayana. Simply by seeing him one becomes free of the sin of killing a brahmana.

Texts 43 and 44
sri-narada uvaca iti srutva dharma-rajas
tam aniya visesatah
vimane kama-ge sthapya
vaikuntham prakrteh param presayam asa sahasa
gopi-chandana-kirti-vit
evam te kathitam rajan
gopi-chandanakam yasah

Sri Narada said: Hearing this, Yamaraja, who understands the glories of gopi-chandana, took the sinner, placed him a an airplane that goes anywhere one wishes, and sent him to Vaikuntha, which is above the worlds of matter. O king, thus I have described to you the glories of gopi-chandana.

Text 45
gopi-chandana-mahatmyam
yah srnoti narottamah
sa yati paramam dhama
sri-krishnasya mahatmanah

One who hears this account of gopi-chandana's glories becomes exalted. He goes to the supreme abode of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.