Bg 17.23
oṁ tat sad iti nirdeśo brahmaṇas tri-vidhaḥ smṛtaḥ
brāhmaṇās tena vedāś ca yajñāś ca vihitāḥ purā
Bg 17.24
tasmād oṁ ity udāhṛtya yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-kriyāḥ
pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satataṁ brahma-vādinām
Translation
23. "OM TAT SAT" --- this has been declared to be the triple designation of BRAHMAN. By that were created formerly, the BRAHMANAS, VEDAS and YAJNAS (sacrifices) .
24. Therefore, with the utterance of 'OM' are begun the acts of sacrifice, gifts and austerity as enjoined in the scriptures, always by the students of BRAHMAN.
Commentary
Om Tat Sat --- This is being declared as the triple designation (Nirdesha) of Brahman. A Nirdesha, generally given in ritualism, is that by performing which any defects that are in the sacred worship are all removed. Each action, no doubt, has its fruit, but the fruit depends not only on the action as such, but also on the purity of the intentions and motives entertained by the performer. However diligent the performer of the sacred acts may be, if the motive behind such acts be foul, they are rendered too ineffective to yield rich dividends. Actions performed by all of us, may appear similar, but the results thereof would vary from individual to individual, according to the essential quality of their intentions.
The brilliance and glory of our intentions can be heightened by the remembrance of the Lord. Dissociation of oneself from one's Matter-envelopments is at once one's awakening and identification with the Lord. To the extent the sacred activity is selfless, to that extent its rewards are pure. To liquidate the ego, the individual must gain the consciousness of his spiritual status.
"Om Tat Sat" is a sentence of three words, each denoting one aspect or the other of the Reality. Om represents the Transcendental and the Pure Self, the Absolute and the Unborn, which is the Infinite Substratum upon which the projections of the body, mind and intellect are maintained. The term Tat is used in our scriptures to indicate the Eternal Goal, the Changeless and the Ever-perfect. In the famous grand declaration of the Vedas, "Tat-twam-asi," the term 'Tat' indicates that from which everything has come, in which everything exists and into which everything merges back in the end. Sat means 'existence.' The "Principle of Existence" functioning through all things --- perceived, felt, and thought of in our everyday life --- is called Sat.
Thus, to invoke the thoughts of Om, which express the TRANSCENDENTAL ABSOLUTE, or to invoke "Tat," the UNIVERSAL TRUTH, or to cherish the concept of "Sat," the REALITY, is to tune up our instruments of action and thereby chasten all our activities in the world outside.
The Eternal Reality, indicated in the triple designation of Brahman "Om Tat Sat," is the Source from which all castes, the Vedas and the sacrifices proceeded, even at the time of Creation. All super-impositions can only arise from, exist in and disappear into that which is their own substratum.
All human activities and endeavours can be classified under the heads: (a) activities (Ahaara) undertaken for the maintenance of the body, and (b) activities (Niyata) that nourish the culture by all co-operative activities pursued with a spirit of dedication (Yajna), all charities (Daana), and all intelligent methods of self-control (Tapas).
WHEN ARE WE TO USE THE TERM "OM"?
The term OM is uttered while acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity are undertaken by the followers of higher life. To cherish in our minds the divine awareness and the absolute supremacy of the Infinite, as expressed in OM, is to add purpose and meaning to all our acts of sacrifice, charity and austerity. To invoke in our minds the divine concept of the Absolute is to free our personality from its limited fields of ego-centric attachments. When a mind is thus liberated from its limitations, it becomes more efficient in all austerities, more selfless in all Yajnas, and more liberal in all charities.
Sources: vedabase.com; The Holy Geeta
oṁ tat sad iti nirdeśo brahmaṇas tri-vidhaḥ smṛtaḥ
brāhmaṇās tena vedāś ca yajñāś ca vihitāḥ purā
Bg 17.24
tasmād oṁ ity udāhṛtya yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-kriyāḥ
pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satataṁ brahma-vādinām
Translation
23. "OM TAT SAT" --- this has been declared to be the triple designation of BRAHMAN. By that were created formerly, the BRAHMANAS, VEDAS and YAJNAS (sacrifices) .
24. Therefore, with the utterance of 'OM' are begun the acts of sacrifice, gifts and austerity as enjoined in the scriptures, always by the students of BRAHMAN.
Commentary
Om Tat Sat --- This is being declared as the triple designation (Nirdesha) of Brahman. A Nirdesha, generally given in ritualism, is that by performing which any defects that are in the sacred worship are all removed. Each action, no doubt, has its fruit, but the fruit depends not only on the action as such, but also on the purity of the intentions and motives entertained by the performer. However diligent the performer of the sacred acts may be, if the motive behind such acts be foul, they are rendered too ineffective to yield rich dividends. Actions performed by all of us, may appear similar, but the results thereof would vary from individual to individual, according to the essential quality of their intentions.
The brilliance and glory of our intentions can be heightened by the remembrance of the Lord. Dissociation of oneself from one's Matter-envelopments is at once one's awakening and identification with the Lord. To the extent the sacred activity is selfless, to that extent its rewards are pure. To liquidate the ego, the individual must gain the consciousness of his spiritual status.
"Om Tat Sat" is a sentence of three words, each denoting one aspect or the other of the Reality. Om represents the Transcendental and the Pure Self, the Absolute and the Unborn, which is the Infinite Substratum upon which the projections of the body, mind and intellect are maintained. The term Tat is used in our scriptures to indicate the Eternal Goal, the Changeless and the Ever-perfect. In the famous grand declaration of the Vedas, "Tat-twam-asi," the term 'Tat' indicates that from which everything has come, in which everything exists and into which everything merges back in the end. Sat means 'existence.' The "Principle of Existence" functioning through all things --- perceived, felt, and thought of in our everyday life --- is called Sat.
Thus, to invoke the thoughts of Om, which express the TRANSCENDENTAL ABSOLUTE, or to invoke "Tat," the UNIVERSAL TRUTH, or to cherish the concept of "Sat," the REALITY, is to tune up our instruments of action and thereby chasten all our activities in the world outside.
The Eternal Reality, indicated in the triple designation of Brahman "Om Tat Sat," is the Source from which all castes, the Vedas and the sacrifices proceeded, even at the time of Creation. All super-impositions can only arise from, exist in and disappear into that which is their own substratum.
All human activities and endeavours can be classified under the heads: (a) activities (Ahaara) undertaken for the maintenance of the body, and (b) activities (Niyata) that nourish the culture by all co-operative activities pursued with a spirit of dedication (Yajna), all charities (Daana), and all intelligent methods of self-control (Tapas).
WHEN ARE WE TO USE THE TERM "OM"?
The term OM is uttered while acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity are undertaken by the followers of higher life. To cherish in our minds the divine awareness and the absolute supremacy of the Infinite, as expressed in OM, is to add purpose and meaning to all our acts of sacrifice, charity and austerity. To invoke in our minds the divine concept of the Absolute is to free our personality from its limited fields of ego-centric attachments. When a mind is thus liberated from its limitations, it becomes more efficient in all austerities, more selfless in all Yajnas, and more liberal in all charities.
Sources: vedabase.com; The Holy Geeta
