hiranya-garbhah -- Lord Brahma; vedanam -- of the Vedas; mantranam -- of mantras; pranavah -- the omkara; tri-vrit -- consisting of three letters; aksharanam -- of letters; a-karah -- the first letter, a; asmi -- I am; padani -- the three-line Gayatri mantra; chandasam -- among sacred meters; aham -- I am.

Among the Vedas I am their original teacher, Lord Brahma, and of all mantras I am the three-lettered omkara. Among letters I am the first letter, "a," and among sacred meters I am the Gayatri mantra.