Verse 9

Brahmavidya

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

शिखा तु दीपसंकाशा तस्मिन्नुपरि वर्तते । अर्धमात्रा तथा ज्ञेया प्रणवस्योपरि स्थिता ॥९॥

Padapatha (Word Split)

शिखा तु दीप-संकाशा तस्मिन् उपरि वर्तते । अर्ध-मात्रा तथा ज्ञेया प्रणवस्य उपरि स्थिता ॥९॥

IAST Transliteration

śikhā tu dīpasaṅkāśā tasminn upari vartate | ardhamātrā tathā jñeyā praṇavasya upari sthitā ||9||

Translation

وتعلو ذلك شِعلةٌ (شيخا) تشبه ضياء المصباح وتتحرّك فوقه؛ وهي تُعرَف بأنها نصفُ المِقدار (أردها-ماترا)، قائمةٌ فوق البرَنَڤا.

Academic Translation

A flame (śikhā), resembling a lamp, moves above that; it is to be known as the half-measure (ardhamātrā), situated above the praṇava.

Verse Context

• Turīya/ardhamātrā; transcendence beyond sound
• Mahavakya: Indirect—ardhamātrā corresponds to the ‘beyond’ of A-U-M, aligning with the non-dual import of mahāvākyas by pointing past symbols to pure consciousness.
• Atharva
• Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (śloka)