Verse 3

Ekakshara

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

प्राणः प्रसूतिर्भुवनस्य योनिर्व्याप्तं त्वया एकपदेन विश्वम् । त्वं विश्वभूर्योनिपारः स्वगर्भे कुमार एको विशिखः सुधन्वा ॥३॥

Padapatha (Word Split)

प्राणः । प्रसूतिः । भुवनस्य । योनिः । व्याप्तम् । त्वया । एक-पदेन । विश्वम् । त्वम् । विश्व-भूः । योनि-पारः । स्व-गर्भे । कुमारः । एकः । विशिखः । सु-धन्वा ।

IAST Transliteration

prāṇaḥ prasūtir bhuvanasya yonir vyāptaṃ tvayā ekapadena viśvam | tvaṃ viśvabhūr yonipāraḥ svagarbhe kumāra eko viśikhaḥ sudhanvā ||3||

Translation

You are prāṇa, the bringing‑forth (prasūti), the womb of the world; by you, with a single step, the whole universe is pervaded. You are the maker of the universe, beyond the womb as source; and within your own womb you are the one Youth—arrowless, of the good bow.

Academic Translation

You are prāṇa, the generation (prasūti), the womb of the world; by you, with a single step, the universe is pervaded. You are the maker of the universe, beyond the womb (source); within your own womb (you are) the one Youth, the arrowless one, the good-bowed (one).

Verse Context

• Brahman as prāṇa (life-principle) and as transcendent cause; immanence and transcendence; self-contained (svagarbha) reality
• Mahavakya: Echoes “ahaṃ brahmāsmi” in the sense that the life-principle (prāṇa) and the all-pervading ground are ultimately one reality; also supports “ayam ātmā brahma” by locating the cosmic prāṇa as the inner Self.
• Atharva
• Chandas: Mixed/irregular (late Upaniṣadic, not strictly Vedic chandas)