Akshamalika Upanishad — Verse 4

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अथ तां पञ्चभिर्गन्धैरमृतैः पञ्चभिर्गव्यैस्तनुभिः शोधयित्वा, पञ्चभिर्गव्यैर्गन्धोदकेन संस्राप्य, तस्मात् सोङ्कारेण पत्रकूर्चेन स्नपयित्वा, अष्टभिर्गन्धैरालिप्य, सुमनःस्थले निवेश्य, अक्षतपुष्पैराराध्य, प्रत्यक्षम् आदिक्षान्तैर्वर्णैर्भावयेत् ॥४॥

Padapatha (Word Split)

अथ । ताम् । पञ्चभिः । गन्धैः । अमृतैः । पञ्चभिः । गव्यैः । तनुभिः । शोधयित्वा । पञ्चभिः । गव्यैः । गन्ध-उदकेन । संस्राप्य । तस्मात् । स-ओङ्कारेण । पत्र-कूर्चेन । स्नपयित्वा । अष्टभिः । गन्धैः । आलिप्य । सुमनः-स्थले । निवेश्य । अक्षत-पुष्पैः । आराध्य । प्रत्यक्षम् । आदि-क्षान्तैः । वर्णैः । भावयेत् ॥४॥

IAST Transliteration

atha tāṃ pañcabhir gandhair amṛtaiḥ pañcabhir gavyais tanubhiḥ śodhayitvā, pañcabhir gavyair gandhodakena saṃsrāpya, tasmāt soṅkāreṇa patrakūrcena snapayitvā, aṣṭabhir gandhair ālipya, sumanaḥsthale niveśya, akṣatapuṣpair ārādhya, pratyakṣam ādikṣāntair varṇair bhāvayet ||4||

Translation

Then, having purified it with five nectarean fragrances and with the five products of the cow (pañcagavya) in subtle applications, and having sprinkled it with scented water together with pañcagavya, one should bathe it with a leaf-brush while uttering ‘sa-oṃkāra’. Anoint it with eight fragrances, place it in a pleasing spot, worship it with unbroken rice (akṣata) and flowers, and contemplate it clearly with the letters from ‘a’ to ‘kṣa’.

Academic Translation

Then, having purified it with five nectarean fragrances and with the five products of the cow in subtle (applications), and having sprinkled it with scented water together with the five cow-products, then bathing it with a leaf-brush while (uttering) ‘sa-oṃkāra’, anointing it with eight fragrances, placing it in a pleasing spot, worshipping it with unbroken rice and flowers—one should contemplate (it) manifestly with the letters beginning with ‘a’ and ending with ‘kṣa’ (i.e., the alphabet).

Verse Context

• Śabda (akṣara) as sacred power; saṃskāra (consecration) of instruments for upāsanā
• Mahavakya: Indirect: alphabet-contemplation functions as śabda-brahman upāsanā preparing the mind for nirguṇa-brahman insight expressed by mahāvākyas.
• Atharva
• Atharva-veda (late/para-Upaniṣad tradition; specific śākhā not securely attested) Shakha
• Chandas: Prose