Upananda was an elderly Gopa. The Purāṇa (Purana)-writer has referred to him as deśakālārthatatvajña (desakalarthatatwajna; one who has knowledge of time and space) to denote his age and wisdom. In the assembly of Gokula, while discussing the issue of Kaṁsa’s repeated attacks on Gokula to do harm to Kṛṣṇa (Krishna) and Valarāma (Valarama), and their miraculous survival, Upananda advised the people of Gokula to leave the place and settle down in Vṛndāvana (Vrindavana). Following his suggestion, the people of Gokula decided to go to Vṛndāvana.