Brahmavidya Upanishad: Verse 7

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

सूर्यमण्डलमध्येऽथ ह्यकारः शङ्खमध्यगः । उकारश्चन्द्रसंकाशस्तस्य मध्ये व्यवस्थितः ॥

मकारस्त्वग्निसंकाशो विधूमो विद्युतोपमः । तिस्रो मात्रास्तथा ज्ञेया सोमसूर्याग्निरूपिणः ॥७-८॥

Padapatha (Word Split)

सूर्य-मण्डल-मध्ये अथ हि अकारः शङ्ख-मध्य-गः । उकारः चन्द्र-संकाशः तस्य मध्ये व्यवस्थितः ॥

मकारः तु अग्नि-संकाशः वि-धूमः विद्युत्-उपमः । तिस्रः मात्राः तथा ज्ञेयाः सोम-सूर्य-अग्नि-रूपिणः ॥७-८॥

Recitation with translationBrahmavidya Upanishad 7

IAST Transliteration

sūryamaṇḍalamadhye 'tha hy akāraḥ śaṅkhamadhyagaḥ | ukāraś candrasaṅkāśas tasya madhye vyavasthitaḥ ||

makāras tv agnisaṅkāśo vidhūmo vidyutopamaḥ | tisro mātrās tathā jñeyāḥ somasūryāgnirūpiṇaḥ ||7–8||

Translation

ثم في وسط قرص الشمس يكون المقطع «أ» كأنه قائم في جوف صدفة. والمقطع «أو»، المتلألئ كالقمر، ثابت في وسطه. والمقطع «م» متوهّج كالنار، بلا دخان، شبيه بالبرق. وهكذا تُعرَف المقادير الثلاثة على أنها ذات صور سوما (القمر) والشمس والنار.

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Academic Translation

Then, in the midst of the solar orb, the syllable ‘a’ is (as) situated in the middle of a conch. The syllable ‘u’, moon-like in radiance, is established in its midst. The syllable ‘m’ is fire-like in radiance, smokeless, comparable to lightning. Thus the three measures are to be known as having the forms of Soma (moon), Sun, and Fire.

Verse Context

• Praṇava-upāsanā; saguṇa Brahman symbolism
• Mahavakya: Indirect—Oṁ as a contemplative support (ālambana) leading toward identity-teachings such as ‘prajnānam brahma’ by refining awareness through symbol to insight.
• Atharva
• Chandas: Mixed śloka/Anuṣṭubh-style (later Upaniṣadic verse)