Verse 1
Naadbindu
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
ॐ अकारो दक्षिणः पक्ष उकारस्तूत्तरः स्मृतः । मकारं पुच्छमित्याहुरर्धमात्रा तु मस्तकम् ॥१॥
Padapatha (Word Split)
ॐ । अकारः । दक्षिणः । पक्षः । उकारः । तु । उत्तरः । स्मृतः । मकारम् । पुच्छम् । इति । आहुः । अर्ध-मात्रा । तु । मस्तकम् ।
IAST Transliteration
oṁ akāro dakṣiṇaḥ pakṣa ukāras tūttaraḥ smṛtaḥ | makāraṁ puccham ity āhur ardhamātrā tu mastakam ||1||
Translation
ॐ-এ ‘অ’ দক্ষিণ পক্ষরূপে স্মৃত, ‘উ’ উত্তর (ঊর্ধ্ব) পক্ষরূপে স্মৃত। ‘ম’কে পুচ্ছ বলা হয়, আর অর্ধমাত্রাই মস্তক।
Academic Translation
Om: the letter ‘A’ is remembered as the right wing; the letter ‘U’ as the left (upper/northern) wing. The letter ‘M’, they say, is the tail; and the half-mora (ardhamātrā) is the head.
Verse Context
Brahman (praṇava as symbol of Brahman)Mahavakya: Indirect: supports mahāvākya contemplation by presenting Oṁ as a comprehensive symbol of Brahman/Ātman (often used as an upāsanā-aid for realizing ‘ayam ātmā brahma’ / ‘tat tvam asi’).AtharvaAtharva-veda (general Atharvaṇic affiliation; specific śākhā not securely attested for this Upaniṣad) ShakhaChandas: Anuṣṭubh (śloka-style)