अक्षराणामकारोऽस्मि द्वन्द्वः सामासिकस्य च ।अहमेवाक्षयः कालो धाताहं विश्वतोमुखः ॥
akṣarāṇām akāro 'smi dvandvaḥ sāmāsikasya ca | aham evākṣayaḥ kālo dhātāhaṃ viśvatomukhaḥ ||
- अक्षराणाम् · akṣarāṇām
- among letters
- अकारः · akāraḥ
- the letter A
- द्वन्द्वः · dvandvaḥ
- the dual, pairing compound
- सामासिकस्य · sāmāsikasya
- among compounds
- अक्षयः कालः · akṣayaḥ kālaḥ
- imperishable time
- धाता · dhātā
- the ordainer, dispenser
- विश्वतोमुखः · viśvatomukhaḥ
- facing every way
“Among letters I am the letter A; among compounds, the pairing dual. I am imperishable time itself, and the ordainer facing every way.”
— Original plain-language translation
Language's first sound and grammar's joining form carry him — even alphabet and syntax are theophany. Time and the all-faced Ordainer close the verse cosmically. The next verse turns from grammar to destiny.
— Reader's notes (original)