Verse 8

Naadbindu

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

कालत्रयेऽपि यत्रेमा मात्रा नूनं प्रतिष्ठिताः । एष ओङ्कार आख्यातो धारणाभिर्निबोधत् ॥

Padapatha (Word Split)

काल-त्रये । अपि । यत्र । इमाः । मात्राः । नूनम् । प्रतिष्ठिताः । एषः । ओङ्कारः । आख्यातः । धारणाभिः । निबोधत् ।

IAST Transliteration

kālatraye 'pi yatre mā mātrā nūnaṃ pratiṣṭhitāḥ | eṣa oṅkāra ākhyāto dhāraṇābhir nibodhata ||

Translation

凡此诸摩怛罗确立于三时（过去、现在、未来）之处，即被宣说为“唵迦罗”(Oṅkāra)。当以诸“持念/摄持”(dhāraṇā)之法而了知。

Academic Translation

Where, indeed, these mātrā-s are established even in the three times (past, present, and future)—this is declared to be Oṅkāra. Understand it through the dhāraṇā-s (concentrative practices).

Verse Context

• Brahman as Oṃ (Oṅkāra) transcending time; steadiness (dhāraṇā) as means to realization
• Mahavakya: Indirect: Oṅkāra as a contemplative support for recognizing identity of Self and Brahman (esp. ‘prajnānam brahma’ via meditative insight)
• Atharva
• Chandas: Anuṣṭubh-like śloka