Krishna Upanishad

Introduction: The Krishna Upanishad, as the name suggests, deals with the incarnation of Lord Krishna. Various virtues, qualities, objects and spiritual practices associated with the incarnation of Lord Krishna have been personified in the Upanishad. In terms of knowledge, the Upanishad does not add much, but it conveys the symbolic significance of various characters associated with his incarnation. The emphasis here seems to be on devotion, in contrast to the spiritual enquiry and practice that is so characteristic of many Upanishads. - Jayaram V

Translated by P. R. Ramachander

Om ! O Devas, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious;
May we see with our eyes what is auspicious, O ye worthy of worship !
May we enjoy the term of life allotted by the Devas,
Praising them with our body and limbs steady !
May the glorious Indra bless us !
May the all-knowing Sun bless us !
May Garuda, the thunderbolt for evil, bless us !
May Brihaspati grant us well-being !
Om ! Let there be Peace in me !
Let there be Peace in my environment !
Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me !

When the sages living in the forest visited Sri Ramachandra who was the incarnation of the ever joyful God and who was extremely pretty, they became surprised and forgetting themselves said, “We want to embrace you, Oh Lord.” The God told them, “When I reincarnate as Lord Krishna, you will be born as Gopis and then you can embrace me.”[Their wish was fulfilled in Krishnavatara.] 1

During the time of incarnation of the Lord as Krishna, Gokula became the forest heaven. Those who had done penance earlier became trees in that forest. Characters like miserliness and anger became Asuras. The Kali period which was coming was postponed till the reincarnation period was over. That Hari who was very pretty reincarnated himself as a Gopa Boy. His playful nature (play with the world) was an unknowable secret. Because of that the world was enchanted. Upanishads and portions of Vedas came in the form of 16108 maidens. The "mercy" was born as mother Rohini and the “earth mother” was born as Sathya Bhama. “Humility” was born as Krishna’s friend Sudhama. “Control of senses” was born as Sage Udhawa and “Truth” was born as Sage Akroora. The broken curd pots became to Krishna the ocean of milk so that he can play with it. This reincarnation was meant to destroy his enemies and to protect good people. The sword in the hand of Krishna was the God of destruction, the Maheswara himself. Sage Kasyapa was born as the mortar in Yasodha’s house and The God mother Adithi became the rope which tied Krishna to the mortar. Kali who destroys all enemies was the mace. The bow called Saranga was the illusion of the God. The harvest season of Sarad became the meals in his house. The lotus he held playfully was the seed for the world. Though the world was not different from all these, it appeared as if it was different. Similarly God himself did not have any differences. And the Vaikunta of those people who live in heaven was brought down to the world. The people who have understood this truly would get the result of their good deeds. They would get themselves released from the ties of the body and attain salvation.

Here ends the Krishnopanishad, as contained in the Atharva-Veda.

Krishna Upanishad

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