CAITANYA UPANISAD

1. Atha pippaladah samit panir bhagavantam brahmanam

upasanno. bhagavan me subham kim atra caksvasveti
atha-thereafter; Pippaladah-Pippalada; samit- panih-with
sacrificial fuel [sacred wood] in hand; bhagavantam—the
opulent; brahmanam-Lord Brahma; upasannah-
approached; Bhagavan-O My Lord; me-unto me; subham—
auspicious; kim-what; atra—in this world; caksasva-please
tell; iti-thus.
Thereafter, Pippalada, with sacrificial fuel in hand,
approached Lord Brahma and said, "O My Lord, in this
world, please tell me what is the real auspiciousness?"
Sri Caitanya-caranamrta Bhasya: Commentary of Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura:
Panca-tattvanvitam natva Caitanya-rasa-vigraham
Caitanyopanisad-bhasyam karomyatma-visuddhaye
After offering obeisances unto the Panca-Tattva, I am writing
this commentary on the Caitanya Upanisad, which is the
form of the mellow of Lord Caitanya, for self purification.
This Caitanya Upanisad which is included within the eternal
Atharva-Veda, and which is full of all bliss, has thus far not
been manifest due to being beyond the vision of persons who
have become blinded by the influence of the illusory energy
and whose minds are directed towards external matters.
Then, when Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the moon of Navadvipa,
appeared, by the endeavor of the pure devotees, it became
known. According to the authority of the Srimad-
Bhagavatam (7.9.38), even the sastras are in a covered form
concerning the Supreme Lord Sri Caitanya who is to be
worshipped in Kali-Yuga [or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
appears in a covered form according to the sastras].
Therefore it is not surprising that, due to misfortune, the
fools who are engaged in karma and jnana have no faith in
this connection.
After examining many sastras and performing much worship,
Pippalada Muni, desiring his own welfare, approached the
guru, the four faced Lord Brahma with fuel in hand and
asked, "What is best for me?"

2. Sa hovaca. bhyua eva tapasa brahmacaryena sasvat

ramasva mano vaseti
sah-He, Lord Brahma. ha-indeed; uvaca—said; bhuyah-
very; eva-only; tapasa-with austerity; brahmacaryena-and
celibacy; sasvat—always; ramasva-be pleased; manah-the
mind; vasa-control ; iti-thus.
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahma said, "Always be very pleased with only
austerity, celibacy and control of the mind."
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
Lord Brahma said to him: "After spending one year acting for
the purification of mind and body by pure behavior in
renunciation, by celibacy, by yoga practice and austerity,
come again".
3. Sa tatha bhutva bhuya enam upasadyaha-bhagavan kalau
papac channah prajah katham mucyeran iti

sah-he, Pippalada; tatha-so; bhutva-becoming; bhuyah-

very; enam-thus; upasadya-approaching; aha-said; bhagavan-
O my Lord; kalau-in Kali; papat-due to sin; channah-
covered; prajah-people; katham-how; mucyeran-can be
liberated; iti-thus.
TRANSLATION
He, Pippalada, becoming pure in mind, again approached his
father and said: "O my Lord Brahma, in the age of Kali Yuga,
people are covered due to sin. How can they obtain
liberation?"
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary.
After practicing purification of the body and mind by
celibacy and austerity, Pippalada again approached his guru
and inquired, "In Kali-Yuga, how can those who are sinful by
nature obtain liberation from the material condition?”
4. ko va devata ko va mantro bruhiti.
kah-which; vazor; devata-deity; kah—which; va-
or; mantrah-mantra; brohi-Please tell (me); iti-thus.
TRANSLATION
Please tell me which deity or which mantra is worthy of
service.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
Oh, my Lord, for the living beings whose minds are
contaminated by Kali-Yuga, please tell me which deity or
which mantra should be served.
5. rahasyasn te vadisyarni—jahnavi-tire navadvipe
golokakhye dhamni govindo dvi-bhujo gaurah sarvatma maha-
puruso rnahatma maha-yogi tri- gunatitah satva-rupo bhakti
Ioke kasyatiti, tad ete sloka bhavanti
sah-he, Lord Brahma; ha-indeed; uvaca-replied; rahasyam-
confidential truth; te-unto you; vadisyami-I will tell; jahnavi-
tire-on the bank of the Jahnavi; navadvipe-in
Navadvipa; goloka-akhye- which is known as
Goloka; dhamniabode; govindah-Lord Govinda; dvi-
bhujahwith two arms; gaurah-golden complexion; sarva-
atma-the Supersoul; maha-purusah-the greatest
Personality; maha-atma; the Supreme Being; maha-yogi-the
greatest yogi; tri-guna-atitah-who is transcendental to the
modes of nature; satva-rupah-the form of truth; bhaktim-
devotional service; loke-in the world; kasyati-will
manifest; iti-thus; tat-that; ete-these; slokah-verses; bhavanti-
are.
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahma replied, "I will tell you the confidential truth.
On the bank of the Jahnavi, in Navadvipa Dhama, which is
known as Goloka, Govinda with two arms, golden
complexion, the Supersoul, the greatest Personality, the
greatest Yogi, the Supreme Being, Who is transcendental to
the modes of nature, and Whose form is truth, will appear to
manifest devotional service ( bhakti ) in this world. These
verses describe that.
Sri Caitanya caranamrta commentary
In the eleventh canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, (11.5.33-
34) the state of being of the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Sri Caitanya, the savior of Kali-Yuga is proven.
dhyeyam sada paribhava-ghnam abhista-doham tirhaspadam
siva-virinci-nutam saranyam bhrtyarti-ham pranata-pala
bhavabdhi-potam vande maha-purusa te caranaravindam
O Supreme Person, O Protector of the devotees, I offer my
respectful obeisances unto Your lotus feet which are worthy
of being constantly meditated upon, which destroy misery,
yield all desire, which are the abode of all holy places of
pilgrimage, which are praised by Lord Siva and Lord Brahma,
which are the shelter of all, which dispel the distress of the
devotees and which are a boat for crossing over the ocean of
material existence.
tyaktva sudustayja-surepsita-rajya-laksmim dharmistha arya-
vacasa yad agad aranyam maya-mrgam dayitayepsitam
anvadhavad vande maha-purusa te caranaravindam
"We offer our respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of the
Lord, upom whom one should always meditate. He left his
householder life, leaving aside His eternal consort, whom
even the denizens of heaven adore. He went into the forest to
deliver the fallen souls, who are put into illusion by the
material energy." ( I )
6. eko devah sarva-rupi mahaana gauro rakta-syamala-sveta-
rupah caitanyatma sa vai caitanya-sakdir bhaktakaro bhakti-
do bhakti-vedyah
ekah-one; devah-Lord; sarva-rupi-the form of all; maha-
atmagreatest Personality; gaurah-Gaura; rakta-red; syamala-
blackish; sveta-white; rupah- whose form; Caitanya-
Caitanya; atmaHimself; sah-he; vaiindeed; Caitanya-saktih-
the embodiment of the spiritual potency; bhakta-of a
devotee; akarah-the form; bhakti-dah-bestower of devotional
service; bhakti-by devotional service; vedyah-He can be
known.
TRANSLATION
The one Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appears in a
variety of transcendental forms, is also knows as Gaura. He
has also appeared in various complexions such as red,
blackish and white. He shall appear in the form of Gaura. He
Himself is Caitanya, the embodiment of cit-sakti. He shall
appear in the form of a devotee, to bestow devotional service
to the Lord and He is also to be known by devotional service.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
In the Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.8.13), the Lord's
characteristics are described by Gargamuni:
suklo raktas tatha pita idanim Krsnatam gatah
"He has been white, red, and yellow and now (in Dvapara-
Yuga), he is blackish."
In Kali-Yuga, He takes the form of a devotee. The confidential
truth is that the Lord has descended with His own abode,
Goloka-Dhama, to the supremely sanctified land of Gauda,
in the form of a devotee as Sri Krsna Caitanya Himself and
desiring to deliver love of God, He has exposed the transcen-
dental secret of madhura-rasa which enlivens all the devotees
in the material world, headed by Sathakopa, Ramanuja,V
isnuswami, Madhvacarya, Nimbarka, etc., for the purpose of
quickly bestowing auspiciousness unto the living beings in
Kali-Yuga. Bhakti vedyah means that the living entities can
know the Lord by the practice of devotional service and not
by the practice of dry philosophical speculation.
7. namo vedanta vedyaya krsnaya paramenane sarva-
caitanya-rupaya caitanyaya namo namah

namah-obeisances; vedanta-by vedanta; vedyaya- who can be

known; Krsnaya-unto Krsna; parama- atmane-who is the
Supersoul; sarva—of everything; caitanya-
conscious; rupayawhose form; caitanyaya- -unto Caitanya
Mahaprabhu; namah namah- obeisances again and again.
TRANSLATION
I offer my respectful obeisances unto He who is to be
understood by Vedanta, who is Krsna, the Supersoul, whose
form is conscious of everything. Obeisances again and again
unto Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
Even Lord Brahma offers his obeisances unto Sri Caitanya
after considering His unlimited mercy upon Lord Brahma's
own Madhva sampradaya.
8. vedanta vedyam purusam puranam caitanyatmanam visva-
yonim mahantam tam eva viditva ti-mrtyum eti nanyah pantha
vidyatetyanaya
vedanta-vedyam-who can be known by vedanta; purusam-
person; puranam-the oldest; caitanya-Caitanya; atmanam-
Himself; visva-yonim-the source of the universe; maha-
antam-the greatest; tam-Him; eva-certainly; viditva-upon
knowing; ati- mrtyam-beyond death; eti-one goes; na-
not; anyah--another; pantha-means; vidyate-there
is; ayanaya-for going.
TRANSLATION
By knowing Him, who is to be known by Vedanta, who is the
oldest personality, who is Himself, Caitanya, the source of
the universe and the greatest, one can overcome death. There
is no other means for going beyond Maya.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
Vedanta-vedyam means, he speaks to Pippalada after
reflecting upon the conclusion of all the Vedas. Sri Caitanya,
although in the form of a devotee can be known by vedanta,
as being directly Sri Krsna. For the living beings who have
given up the material world, without the shelter of the lotus
feet of Sri Caitanya, there is no other means for entering into
the spiritual world. According to the evidence of Ramanuja,
etc., by the mellow of servitorship, dasya-rasa, there is no
direct path. The destination of those who practice dasya rasa
etc., is limited to Vaikuntha. This is apparent in their books,
etc. This is because Sri Caitanya is the source of the universe
and the only teacher in the matter of instructing vraja-rasa.
9. sva-nama-mula-mantrena sarvam hladayati vibhuh.
sva-His own; nama-name; mula-whose source; mantrena-by
the mantra; sarvam-everything;
TRANSLATION
By the mantra, whose source is His own name, the Lord
pleases everything.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
Because there may be an incongruity with, "by the mantra
whose source lies in His Form", Bhaktivinode explains that
sva nama, His own name, means the name of Krsna, not the
name of Caitanya. Moreover, it can also mean Hari, but
specifically it means Krsna. Vibhuh means the Lord who
possesses all opulence. And sarvam means all moving and
non-moving living beings.
10. dve sakti parame tasya hladini samvit eva ca, iti
dve-two; sakti-potencies; parame-superior; tasya-His; hladini-
hladini (bliss); samvit-samvit (knowledge); eva-certainly; ca-
and; iti-thus.
TRANSLATION
His superior energies are hladini (bliss), and samvit
(knowledge).
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
Two energies are acquainted with the Supreme Lord - hladini
and samvit. By hladini is meant, by the manifestation of
devotional service (bhakti) and love of God (prema), He
pleases everything. By samvit is meant, by the manifestation
of knowledge of the Absolute Truth which is approved of by
the pure conclusions of the Vedas, He destroys the varieties
of religion and irreligion which are similar to ignorance and
darkness within of the heart of the conditioned soul.

11. sa eva mula-mantram japati harir iti krsna iti rama iti
sah-He, Sri Caitanya; eva-certainly; mula-mantram-the
original mantra; japati-chants; Harih-Hari; iti-thus; Krsna-
Krsna; iti-thus; Ramah-Rama; iti- thus.
TRANSLATION
He chants the original mantra consisting of Hari, Krsna and
Rama, in other words, the Hare Krsna Sri Caitanya
Upanisad...
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
The Supreme Lord in the form of Gaura instructs the
conditioned souls by chanting the supremely powerful,
original mantra:
Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
12. harati hrdaya-granthim vasana-rupam iri harih. krsih
smarane tac ca nastad ubhaya-melanam iti krsnah. ramayati
sarvam iti rama ananda-rupah. atra sloko bhavati.
harati-He removes; hrdaya-in the heart; granthim- the
knot; vasana-of material desire; rupam—in the form; iti-
thus; Harih-Hari; krsih-the root krs; smarane-by the
remembrance; tat-that; ca-and; nastat-the affix na; ubhaya-of
both; melanam-the union;iti-thus; KrsnahKrsna; ramayati-He
pleases; sarvam-everything; iti-thus;Ramah-Rama; ananda-
rupahthe form of bliss; atra-here; slokah-a verse; bhavati-is.
TRANSLATION
He who removes the knot in the heart in the form of material
desire, is called Hari. The union by the remembrance of the
root krs- and the affix -na, is the hymn of praise-Krsna. He
who gives pleasure to everything is the form of bliss-Rama.
Here is such a verse.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
The meanings of the above three names are explained.
Hrdaya-Granthi, means the inclination of the living entity
whose factual constitutional position is to be a servant of
Krsna, which takes its form in the desire for other mundane
interests which is produced from the forgetfulness of the
service of the Lord. In this connection, the words of the
Vedas and the Srimad-Bhagavatam are noteworthy:
bhidyante hrdaya-granthis chidyante sarva-samsayah
He severs the knot within the heart and all doubts are cut to
pieces. (Mundaka-Upanisad 2.2.8 and Srimad- Bhagavatam
1.2.21) He who takes away that knot is Hari. Krsna is to be
remembered in His pastimes as the Supreme Lord, the Lord
of Vrindavana, with beauty like a blackish tamala tree,
sucking the breast of Mother Yasoda. This is the conventional
meaning, which is equivalent to another meaning from the
statements of the Sandarbhas. Rama pleases everything. By
this mantra is meant, that when the spirit soul gives up the
conditioned state of existence, he attains the state of assisting
in the transcendental Vrindavana pastimes, and the
attainment of the Supreme enjoyment of rasa, etc. Thus, the
verse is to be reflected upon in this way.
13. mantro guhyah paramo bhakti vedyah
mantoh-the Hare Krsna Maha-Mantra; guhyah-
confidential; paramah-transcendental; bhakti-by bhakti-
yoga; vedyah-can be known.
TRANSLATION
The Maha-Mantra is confidential, transcendental and can be
understood only by devotional service, (bhakti-yoga).
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
The confidential truth of this mantra can be understood only
by those who have attained the prescribed method and not
by those who are adherents of fruitive work (karma) and
philosophical speculation (jnana).
sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje ahaituky
apratihata yayatma suprasidati
The most perfect occupation for all humankind is what is
conducive to the attainment of devotional service of
transcendence to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such
devotional service must be unmotivated and undeterred so
that the same shall completely satisfy the self. (Srimad-
Bhagavatam 1.2.6) (2)
14. Namany astav asta ca sobhanani. tani nityam ye japanti
dhiras te vai mayam atitaranti nanyah paramam mantram
parama-rahasyam nityam avartayanti
namani-names; astav asta ca-eight plus eight; sobhanani-
beautiful; tani-those names; nityam- regularly; ye-those
who; japanti-chant; dhirah- sober persons; te-they; vai-
certainly; mayamthe illusory energy; atitaranti-cross
over; na-not; anyah- -another means; paramam-
transcendental; mantram- -mantra; parama-rahasyam-the
supreme secret; nityam-regularly; avartayati-one should
repeat.
TRANSLATION
These sixteen names are supremely beautified. Those who
chant them regularly are sober persons who are able to cross
beyond the illusory energy. There is no other means. One
should repeat this maha-mantra which is the supreme secret,
regularly.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
This mantra's quality of yielding fruits to the devotees is
apparent. By regularly chanting this mantra consisting of
sixteen names, the devotees transcendentally cross beyond
the state of being overcome by the illusory, material energy.
There is no other means than this. Even the eternally perfect
souls regularly repeat this mantra for the sake of their own
dharma.
15. Caitanya eva sankarsano vasudevah paramesthi rudrah
sakro brhaspatih sarve devah sarvani bhutani sthavarani
carani ca yat kincit sad-asat karanam sarvam, tad atra slokah.
Caitanyah-Sri Caitanya; eva-indeed; sankarsanah-
Sankarsana; vasudevah-Vasudeva; paramesthi-the
Supersoul; rudrahRudra (Siva); sakrah-sakra
(Indra); brhaspatihBrhaspati; sarve-all; devah- the
demigods; sarvani-all; bhutani-the living entities; sthavarani-
non-moving; carani-moving; ca-and; yat-which; kincit-
anything; sat-eternal; asat-temporary; karanam-the
cause; sarvam-everything; tat-that; atra-herein; slokah-the
verses.
TRANSLATION
Caitanya is Sankarsana, Vasudeva, and the Supersoul. He is
the cause of Rudra (Siva), Sakra (Indra), Brhaspati, all the
demigods, all moving and non-moving entities, and
everything which is temporary and external. Herein are the
celebrated verses.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
For the devotees of Sri Caitanya, what need is there for
worshipping other demigods.
16. yat kincid asad bhunkte ksaram tat karyam ucyate.
yat-that which; kincit-whatever; asattemporary; bhunkte-one
enjoys; ksaramperishable; tat-that; karyam-effect; ucyate-is
called.
TRANSLATION
Whatever one enjoys which is temporary is known as an
effect and is perishable.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
This universe is temporary, due to its quality of being an
effect.
17. sat karanam pararn jivas tad aksaram itiritam.
sat-eternal; karanam-the cause; param-beyond; jivah-the
spirit soul; tat-that; aksaram-perishable; iti-thus; iritam-it is
said.
TRANSLATION
It is said that the spirit soul is eternal. He is the cause of that
which is perishable and also beyond that which is perishable.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
The spirit soul is eternal and the cause of that which is
perishable. Due to forgetfulness of his occupational duty
because of the influence of the illusory energy, he imagines
himself to be the doer. Therefore, he is perishable.

18. Ksaraksarabhyam paramah sa eva purusottamah

caintanyakhyam param tattvam sarva-karana- karanam.
ksara-from the perishable; aksarabhyam-and
imperishable; paramah-beyond; sah-He; eva-
certainly; purusa-uttamah-the Supreme Person; Caitanya-
Caitanya; akhyamis called; param-tattvam-the Supreme
Truth; sarva-karana-karanam-the cause of all causes.
TRANSLATION
He who is beyond that which is perishable and imperishable
is the Supreme Person. The name of the Supreme Truth, the
cause of all causes is Sri Caitanya.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
The universe is perishable. The spirit soul is imperishable.
The supreme truth beyond both of these, the cause of all
causes is called Caitanya, whose nature is that of the Supreme
Person. By this, the three truths of Vedanta are confirmed.

19. ya enam rasayahti bhajati dhyayahti sa papmanam tarati

sa puto bhavati, sa tattvam janati, sa tarati sokam, gatis
tasyaste nanyasyeti

yah-one who; enam-this Caitanya Mahaprabhu; rasayati-

develops love for; bhajati-worships; dhyayati-meditates
upon; sah-he; papmanam-sin; tarati-crosses over; sah-
he; putah-purified; bhavati-is; sah-he; tattvam-
truth; janatiknows; sah-he; tarati-overcomes; sokam-
lamentation; gatih- -destination; tasya-of him; aste-there
is; na-not; anyasya-another; iti-thus.
TRANSLATION
Anyone who develops love for Caitanya Mahaprabhu,
worships Him or meditates on Him is freed from sin,
becomes purified, understands the Supreme Truth, and
overcomes lamentation. For him, there is no other
destination.
Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary
One who is a devotee develops love for Krsna Caitanya. This
means he devotes himself to Sri Caitanya due to his being the
bestower of the conjugal mellow of Vrindavana. Bhajati, or
he worships, means that after accepting his own
constitutional position, he renders service. Dhyayati means
that he meditates. He overcomes sin in the form of ignorance.
Having overcome that, he is purified by the spiritual nature.
Tattvam means that he understands the truth in terms of
inconceivable oneness and difference between the energy and
the energetic. (acintya bheda-abheda-tattva). And finally he
overcomes lamentation.
Thus ends the Sri Caitanya-Caranamrta commentary on the
Sri Caitanya Upanisad.

This Sri Caitanya Upanisad was re-discovered by Srila

Bhaktivinoda Thakura (One Of the Greatest Vedic Scholars
Ever).
Someone may argue and object that this can be a forgery,
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura might have written it and
attributed to Srila Vyasadeva, and said that He rediscovered
it.
But this objection is baseless because of many points to
consider. Without mentioning all of those points, I would
like to just give one Objective Irrefutable Proof.
Caitanya-upanisad is written in classical Sanskrit with
"svara"(only taught in South India), which is not practiced
even in Bengal. We have shown the text of Caitanya-
upanisad to several Sanskrit scholars at the Sanskrta-
Sansodhana-Samsat Academy of Sanskrit Research in South
India and their comments were the same, "The text is in
perfect Vedic Sanskrit and the 'svara' shows its origin to be
from antiquity."