Bhagavad Gita · 17.24 · Yoga through Discerning the Three Divisions of Faith·24 of 28
तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः।प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ॥
tasmād oṁ ity udāhṛitya yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-kriyāḥ
pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satataṁ brahma-vādinām
Sanskrit recitation
Om Tat Sat — make it true · 17.23–17.28 · Teaching
Translation
Therefore, with the utterance of "Om," the acts of sacrifice, gift, and austerity, as enjoined in the scriptures, are always begun by the students of Brahman.
Meaning
Those who are knowers of the scriptures have a vivid impression of Om in their minds by means of meditation and then they will utter the Pranava with the proper attitude and feeling. Then meditating on Om and uttering it, they perform the sacrifices. Just as a hillstick is very useful in climbing a hill, just as a boat is very useful in crossing a river, so also Om is very useful and important at the commencement of an action or sacrifice.It is not desirable to renounce actions or sacrifices to attain union with the Lord. What is wanted is total and perfect surrender of all actions to God. Sacrifice, charity and austerity are not hindrances to the attainment of Selfrealisation on the contrary the attainment of liberation is rendered easy by their performance without any selfish desires or egoism.
After Swami Sivananda
Om Tat Sat — make it true· 17.23–17.28→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 17.23"Om Tat Sat": This has been declared to be the triple designation of Brahman. By that, the Brahmanas, the Vedas, and the sacrifices were created formerly.
17.24Therefore, with the utterance of "Om," the acts of sacrifice, gift, and austerity, as enjoined in the scriptures, are always begun by the students of Brahman.
- 17.25Uttering "Tat," without aiming for the fruits, are the acts of sacrifice, austerity, and the various acts of gifts performed by those seeking liberation.
- 17.26The word "Sat" is used to refer to reality and goodness; likewise, O Arjuna, the word "Sat" is used to refer to an auspicious act.
- 17.27Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and gift is also called 'Sat', and action in connection with these, or for the sake of the Supreme, is also called 'Sat'.
- 17.28Whatever is sacrificed, given, or performed, and whatever austerity is practiced without faith, it is called 'Asat', O Arjuna; it is of no value here or hereafter (after death).
Word-by-word→
- om
- sacred syllable om
- iti
- thus
- dāna
- charity
- yajña
- sacrifice
- satatam
- always
- tapaḥ
- penance
- tasmāt
- therefore
- kriyāḥ
- performing
- pravartante
- begin
- udāhṛitya
- by uttering
- brahma-vādinām
- expounders of the Vedas
- vidhāna-uktāḥ
- according to the prescriptions of Vedic injunctions
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