Verse 17.23
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
ॐ तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः | ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा ||२३||
Transliteration (IAST)
oṁ tat sad iti nirdeśo brahmaṇas trividhaḥ smṛtaḥ | brāhmaṇās tena vedāś ca yajñāś ca vihitāḥ purā ||23||
Word-by-Word Meanings
Translation
Om Tat Sat - this has been declared as the threefold designation of Brahman. By that were the brahmins, the Vedas, and the sacrifices ordained of old.
Commentary
This verse introduces the sacred formula Om Tat Sat as the triple designation of the Absolute Reality. Shankaracharya explains that these three words sanctify all spiritual acts and connect them to Brahman. Om represents the totality of existence, Tat points to the transcendent reality, and Sat denotes absolute being. Ramanuja notes that this formula was used from the beginning of creation to consecrate all Vedic activities.