Verse 7

Brahmavidya

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॥

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

सूर्यमण्डल के मध्य ‘अ’ अक्षर शंख के मध्यवत् स्थित है। उसके भीतर चन्द्र-प्रभ ‘उ’ अक्षर प्रतिष्ठित है। ‘म’ अक्षर अग्नि-प्रभ, धूमरहित, विद्युत्-सदृश है। इस प्रकार तीन मात्राएँ सोम, सूर्य और अग्नि-रूप जाननी चाहिए।

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)