Verse 48

Naadbindu

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

निःशब्दं तत्परं ब्रह्म परमात्मा समीर्यते । नादो यावन्मनस्तावन्नादान्तेऽपि मनोन्मनी ॥

Padapatha (Word Split)

निः-शब्दम् । तत् । परम् । ब्रह्म । परमात्मा । समीर्यते ॥ नादः । यावत् । मनः । तावत् । नाद-अन्ते । अपि । मनः-उन्मनी ॥

IAST Transliteration

niḥśabdaṃ tat paraṃ brahma paramātmā samīryate | nādo yāvan manas tāvan nādānte 'pi manonmanī ||

Translation

वह परम ब्रह्म, परमात्मा, ‘निःशब्द’ कहा गया है। जब तक नाद है, तब तक मन है; नाद के अंत में भी ‘मनोन्मनी’—मनातीत अवस्था—होती है।

Academic Translation

That supreme Brahman, the Paramātman, is spoken of as soundless. So long as there is nāda, so long is there mind; even at the end of nāda there is ‘manonmanī’ (the mind transcended).

Verse Context

• Nirguṇa Brahman as niḥśabda; transcendence of all supports (ālambana) culminating in manonmanī
• Mahavakya: Directly consonant with ‘प्रज्ञानं ब्रह्म’ (Prajñānam Brahma): Brahman is pure consciousness, not an object like sound; nāda is a means that is finally relinquished.
• Atharva
• Chandas: Anuṣṭubh