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: