The first quarter is Vaiśvānara, whose place is the state of waking, conscious of the external, of seven members and nineteen mouths, enjoying the gross.

This mantra initiates the systematic analysis of Oṃkāra. The syllable has four parts (pāda), and each part corresponds to a state of consciousness (avasthā).

The first quarter is A — the first letter of Oṃ. It corresponds to the waking state (jāgarita-sthāna).

Vaiśvānara: the universal fire, the vital principle that animates all human beings in the waking state. It is bāhiṣprajña — conscious of the external, oriented toward sense objects. Here consciousness is dispersed in the ten senses and their respective objects.

Seven members (saptāṅga): the seven elements of being in the waking state:

1. Head (heaven)
2. Eyes (sun)
3. Breath (wind)
4. Heart (space)
5. Body (altar)
6. Bladder (water)
7. Feet (earth)

Nineteen mouths (ekonaviṃśatimukha): the nineteen instruments of cognition and action: five sense organs, five organs of action, five prāṇas, mind (manas), intellect (buddhi), ego (ahaṅkāra) and citta.

Sthūlabhuk (sthūla = gross, material; bhuj = to enjoy): the one who feeds on gross experience. In the waking state, consciousness identifies exclusively with the physical body and its world.

This is the ordinary condition of most human beings: consciousness dispersed outward, seemingly separate, identified with form.