The “u” as a monophonic [morpheme] is nasalized before the word “iti” [in the Padapāṭha]. [The monophonic particle “u”] is also lengthened and is treated as a “pragṛhya” [i. e. is not combined in “sandhi” with the following “iti”]. (pp. 214-215) - Deshpande (1997)