Verse 1

Ekakshara

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

एकाक्षरं त्वक्षरेऽत्रास्ति सोमे सुषुम्नायां चेह दृढी स एकः । त्वं विश्वभूर्भूतपतिः पुराणः पर्जन्य एको भुवनस्य गोप्ता ॥१॥

Padapatha (Word Split)

एक-अक्षरम् । त्वम् । अक्षरे । अत्र । अस्ति । सोमे । सुषुम्नायाम् । च । इह । दृढी । सः । एकः । त्वम् । विश्व-भूः । भूत-पतिः । पुराणः । पर्जन्यः । एकः । भुवनस्य । गोप्ता ।

IAST Transliteration

ekākṣaraṃ tv akṣare ’trāsti some suṣumnāyāṃ ceha dṛḍhī sa ekaḥ | tvaṃ viśvabhūr bhūtapatiḥ purāṇaḥ parjanya eko bhuvanasya goptā ||1||

Translation

അക്ഷരത്തിൽ ഇവിടെ ഏകാക്ഷരതത്ത്വം നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു; സോമത്തിലും ഇവിടെ സുഷുമ്നാ നാഡിയിലും ആ ഏകൻ ദൃഢമായി സ്ഥാപിതനാണ്. നീ വിശ്വസൃഷ്ടികർത്താവ്, ഭൂതങ്ങളുടെ അധിപതി, പുരാതനൻ; പർജന്യനായി ഏകൻ—ലോകത്തിന്റെ ഗോപ്താവാണ്.

Academic Translation

The one-syllabled (principle) indeed is here in the imperishable; in Soma, and here in the suṣumnā (channel), that One is firmly established. You are the maker of the universe, the lord of beings, the ancient one; the rain-giver—one—(you are) the protector of the world.

Verse Context

• Brahman as Ekākṣara (Oṃ) and as the imperishable Ātman; inner channel (suṣumnā) as locus of realization
• Mahavakya: Supports the import of identity-statements such as “ayam ātmā brahma” by presenting the imperishable One as the inner reality; also aligns with Oṃ as indicator (vācaka) of Brahman.
• Atharva
• Chandas: Mixed/irregular (late Upaniṣadic, not strictly Vedic chandas)