Verses 17.23-24

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verses 17.23-24:

ओं तत् सद् इति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस् त्रि-विधः स्मृतः ।
ब्राह्मणास् तेन वेदाश् च यज्ञाश् च विहिताः पुरा ॥ २३ ॥
तस्माद् ओं इत्य् उदाहृत्य यज्ञ-दान-तपः-क्रियाः ।
प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्म-वादिनाम् ॥ २४ ॥

oṃ tat sad iti nirdeśo brahmaṇas tri-vidhaḥ smṛtaḥ |
brāhmaṇās tena vedāś ca yajñāś ca vihitāḥ purā || 23 ||
tasmād oṃ ity udāhṛtya yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-kriyāḥ |
pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satataṃ brahma-vādinām || 24 ||

oṃ tat sat–the transcendental syllables, or names, oṃ, tat and sat; iti–thus; nirdeśaḥ–indicating; brahmaṇaḥ–the Supreme brahma; tri-vidhaḥ–of three types; smṛtaḥ–it is said; brāhmaṇāḥ–the brāhmaṇas, who are conversant with the Supreme brahma; tena–by this (utterance); vedāḥ–the Vedas; ca–and; yajñāḥ–sacrifices; ca–and; vihitāḥ–were created; purā–in ancient times; tasmāt–therefore; oṃ–the sacred syllable oṃ; iti–thus; udāhṛtya–while uttering; yajña–of sacrifice; dāna–charity; tapaḥ–and austerity; kriyāḥ–activities; pravartante–performed; vidhāna-uktāḥ–according to the scriptures; satatam–always; brahma-vādinām–of those who follow the Vedic version.

It is said that oṃ, tat and sat are three names used to indicate brahma, the Supreme Absolute Reality. The brāhmaṇas, the Vedas and sacrifices were originally created from these three words. Therefore, dedicated followers of the Vedas always commence the performance of sacrifice, charity, austerity and other religious activity prescribed in the scriptures, by uttering the sacred syllable oṃ.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

It is generally explained that every human being can perform one of the three types of austerities, sacrifices, etc., according to their qualification. Among those who are in the mode of goodness, the brahmavādīs begin their performance of sacrifice with an invocation to brahma, or God. Therefore, Śrī Bhagavān says that saintly persons remember and honour Him by the threefold invocation of brahma: oṃ, tat, sat.

Throughout the invocations of the Vedas, the renowned, sacred syllable oṃ is prominent and is certainly the name of brahma. Tat (brahma) is well known as the cause of the universe. It also removes atat (māyā). Sat is described in the Chāndogya Upaniṣad (6.2.1) as follows: “O gentle one, in the beginning there was only sat (the Supreme Absolute Eternal Reality).”

The brāhmaṇas, the Vedas and a host of sacrifices were created solely from brahma, the Supreme Lord, who is represented by the names oṃ, tat and sat. Consequently, the current followers of the Vedas perform yajñas by uttering the sacred syllable oṃ.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura quotes Kṛṣṇa as saying, “Please listen as I explain the import of these verses. The performance of austerity, sacrifice, charity and taking food are each of three types: sāttvika, rājasika and tāmasika. The faith with which the conditioned living entities perform these activities, be it first, second or third class, remains contaminated by the modes and is worthless. These activities only become purposeful in attaining the stage of fearlessness, in the form of the purification of one’s existence, when they are performed with nirguṇā-śraddhā, that is, with faith that gives rise to bhakti. It is ordained throughout scripture that prescribed duties should be performed with such transcendental faith, or śraddhā. Scripture contains three principles that indicate brahma, the Supreme Absolute Truth: oṃ, tat and sat. These three names also describe the brāhmaṇas, the Vedas and sacrifice.

“Śraddhā, or faith, that causes one to neglect the codes of scripture is contaminated by the modes of nature. It does not even remotely aim to attain the Supreme and will only yield the desired material result. Therefore, in the performance of scripturally prescribed activities, unflinching faith is imperative. Your doubt in scripture and your lack of faith arise due to a lack of proper discrimination. Therefore, followers of the Vedas, who have brahma as the goal, perform all their activities as prescribed in scripture, such as sacrifice, charity and austerities, by chanting the sacred syllable oṃ.”