BHAGAVAD-GITA 17:23

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 17:23

 

om tat sad iti nirdeso

brahmanas tri-vidhah smrtah

brahmanas tena vedas ca

yajnas ca vihitah pura

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

om--indication of the Supreme; tat--that; sat--eternal; iti--thus;

nirdesah--indication; brahmanah--of the Supreme;

tri-vidhah--threefold; smrtah--is considered; brahmanah--the

brahmanas; tena--with that; vedah--the Vedic literature; ca--also;

yajnah--sacrifice; ca--also; vihitah--used; pura--formerly.

 

TRANSLATION

 

>From the beginning of creation, the three words om tat sat were used

to indicate the Supreme Absolute Truth. These three symbolic

representations were used by brahmanas while chanting the hymns of the

Vedas and during sacrifices for the satisfaction of the Supreme.

 

PURPORT

 

It has been explained that penance, sacrifice, charity and foods are

divided into three categories: the modes of goodness, passion and

ignorance. But whether first class, second class or third class, they

are all conditioned, contaminated by the material modes of nature.

When they are aimed at the Supreme--om tat sat, the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, the eternal--they become means for spiritual

elevation. In the scriptural injunctions such an objective is

indicated. These three words, om tat sat, particularly indicate the

Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the Vedic

hymns, the word om is always found.

 

One who acts without following the regulations of the scriptures will

not attain the Absolute Truth. He will get some temporary result, but

not the ultimate end of life. The conclusion is that the performance

of charity, sacrifice and penance must be done in the mode of

goodness. Performed in the mode of passion or ignorance, they are

certainly inferior in quality. The three words om tat sat are uttered

in conjunction with the holy name of the Supreme Lord, e.g., om tad

visnoh. Whenever a Vedic hymn or the holy name of the Supreme Lord is

uttered, om is added. This is the indication of Vedic literature.

These three words are taken from Vedic hymns. Om ity etad brahmano

nedistham nama (Rg Veda) indicates the first goal. Then tat tvam asi

(Chandogya Upanisad 6.8.7) indicates the second goal. And sad eva

saumya (Chandogya Upanisad 6.2.1) indicates the third goal. Combined

they become om tat sat. Formerly when Brahma, the first created living

entity, performed sacrifices, he indicated by these three words the

Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore the same principle has

always been followed by disciplic succession. So this hymn has great

significance. Bhagavad-gita recommends, therefore, that any work done

should be done for om tat sat, or for the Supreme Personality of

Godhead. When one performs penance, charity and sacrifice with these

three words, he is acting in Krsna consciousness. Krsna consciousness

is a scientific execution of transcendental activities which enables

one to return home, back to Godhead. There is no loss of energy in

acting in such a transcendental way.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.