Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, Verse 23

Chapter 17 – Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

ॐतत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः ।
ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा ॥

Transliteration

OMtatsaditi nirdeśo brahmaṇastrividhaḥ smṛtaḥ .
brāhmaṇāstena vedāśca yajñāśca vihitāḥ purā ॥

Meaning

'Om Tat Sat': this is declared to be the threefold designation of Brahman. By it, in the beginning, the brahmanas, the Vedas and the sacrifices were ordained.

Word meanings

ॐ तत् सत् – Om, Tat, Sat — three names of Brahman
इति – thus
निर्देशः – designation, name, indication
ब्रह्मणः – of Brahman
त्रिविधः – threefold
स्मृतः – is declared
ब्राह्मणाः – the brahmanas, knowers of the Veda
तेन – by that
वेदाः – the Vedas
च – and
यज्ञाः – the sacrifices
च – and
विहिताः – were ordained, created
पुरा – in the beginning, of old

Anvaya (word order)

ॐ तत् सत् इति ब्रह्मणः त्रिविधः निर्देशः स्मृतः; तेन पुरा ब्राह्मणाः वेदाः च यज्ञाः च विहिताः ।

Explanation

Krishna has described three kinds each of sacrifice, austerity and charity, and made clear that sattvic action is best. One question remains: human action always falls short somewhere. The procedure may be flawed, or the mind not wholly pure. How, then, can an act be made complete and sanctified? This verse and the next five give the answer: Om Tat Sat.

Om tat sad iti nirdesho brahmanas trividhah smritah: these three words are the threefold nirdesha of Brahman. Nirdesha means a name or indication by which something is pointed out. Brahman itself is beyond words and thought, but these three words are sacred symbols pointing towards it, as a finger points to the moon.

Om, the pranava, is the most sacred and primordial sound, regarded as the essence of the Vedas. The Mandukya Upanishad presents it as the symbol of waking, dream and deep sleep and of the fourth state beyond them. In Chapter 8 Krishna said that one who leaves the body chanting Om attains the supreme goal (8.13). Tat, 'That', is the supreme truth which, being beyond the senses and mind, can only be indicated as 'That'; the great Upanishadic saying tat tvam asi, 'That thou art', points to this Tat. Sat, 'that which is', is pure existence that never perishes; Chapter 2 says that the real never ceases to be (2.16).

Brahmanas tena vedash cha yajnash cha vihitah pura: by this, in the beginning, were ordained the brahmanas (the knowers and custodians of the Vedas), the Vedas (knowledge) and the sacrifices (action). This shows the glory of the name: the whole order of dharma, its knowers, its knowledge and its practice, springs from this source. Shankara says the statement is made in praise of Om Tat Sat, so that the seeker may have faith in it.

The practical importance of the verse is that when an action is performed remembering this threefold name, it is linked directly with Brahman. As a small lamp joined to the sun's light shines brightly, our limited action, joined to this name, becomes holy and complete. That is why Indian tradition closes scriptures and rituals with the words Om Tat Sat.

The verse lifts Chapter 17 to a new height. Until now actions were analysed by the gunas; now we learn how to raise action above the gunas and connect it with Brahman.

Context

Verses 7 to 22 described three kinds each of food, sacrifice, austerity and charity; from here Krishna explains Om Tat Sat, which sanctifies and completes these acts. The next three verses explain the use of each of the three words.

Life lesson

However imperfect our actions, connecting them with the remembrance of God's name makes them holy and complete. Begin and end every good work by remembering the Lord.

Key terms

Om Tat Sat: The threefold name of Brahman — three sacred symbols of the supreme truth
Om (Pranava): The primordial sacred sound, essence of the Vedas, symbol of Brahman
Tat: 'That' — the supreme truth beyond the senses
Sat: 'That which is' — pure, imperishable existence