so 'yam ātmādhyakṣaram oṅkāro 'dhimātraṁ pādā mātrā mātrāś ca pādā akāra ukāro makāra iti ||
"This same Self is OM, considered from the standpoint of its syllables. The quarters are the letters, and the letters are the quarters: A, U, M."
What This Means:
The sound OM and the Self are the same. OM can be analyzed into three sounds, A, U, M, and these correspond to the three states (waking, dreaming, deep sleep). The fourth is the silence after.
Going Deeper:
This verse introduces the key meditation technique of the Mandukya: using the sound OM to understand consciousness. A-U-M maps onto Vaishvanara-Taijasa-Prajna. By meditating on OM, you can directly explore the states of consciousness within your own experience.
How To Apply This:
When you chant OM, consciously experience each part: A (ah) as waking awareness, U (oo) as the subtle dream realm, M (mm) as the depths of deep sleep. Then rest in the silence after, that's the fourth.
Key Sanskrit Terms: