Yoga through Discerning the Three Divisions of Faith
Verse 17.23
तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः।ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा।।17.23।।
oṁ tat sad iti nirdeśho brahmaṇas tri-vidhaḥ smṛitaḥ brāhmaṇās tena vedāśh cha yajñāśh cha vihitāḥ purā
Word Meanings
om tat sat—syllables representing aspects of transcendence; iti—thus; nirdeśhaḥ—symbolic representatives; brahmaṇaḥ—the Supreme Absolute Truth; tri-vidhaḥ—of three kinds; smṛitaḥ—have been declared; brāhmaṇāḥ—the priests; tena—from them; vedāḥ—scriptures; cha—and; yajñāḥ—sacrifice; cha—and; vihitāḥ—came about; purā—from the beginning of creation
Translation · English
"Om Tat Sat": This has been declared to be the triple designation of Brahman. By that, the Brahmanas, the Vedas, and the sacrifices were created formerly.
Deep Meaning · English
In this pivotal verse, Lord Krishna unveils the sacred formula for sanctifying human action: Om, Tat, and Sat. By categorizing the Supreme Absolute (Brahman) into these three designations, the Gita teaches that any activity—whether it be the recitation of scripture or the performance of sacrifice—lacks spiritual potency until it is consecrated by the remembrance of the Divine. The threefold designation acts as a bridge between the finite realm of rituals and the infinite expanse of the Absolute, reminding the practitioner that the source, the process, and the ultimate goal are all expressions of the One Truth. Historically, this verse serves to validate the Vedic order, explaining how priests, scriptures, and sacrifices were originally brought into existence through the power of this sacred vibration. However, for the seeker, the deeper significance lies in the internal purification of motive. To invoke 'Om Tat Sat' is to strip away the ego's claim to ownership, redirecting the 'I' toward the 'Is-ness' of Brahman. It teaches that true spiritual life is not about the complexity of the ritual, but the depth of the awareness that the entire universe—the actor, the action, and the result—emerges from and dissolves back into the Absolute Reality.
The threefold designation of the Supreme serves as a spiritual seal that transforms ordinary, ego-driven activities into sacred offerings of transcendental value.
Connected Verses
Concludes the chapter by asserting that anything done without faith or surrender is considered 'Asat' (false) and ultimately empty.
Highlights the necessity of offering every action to the Lord, mirroring the intent of the threefold designation.
Explains the potency of the syllable Om as the path to the Supreme Abode.
Expands on the concept that all aspects of sacrifice, including the process and the offering, are simply Brahman manifesting in different forms.
Community Insights
(0)Share your understanding of this verse with fellow seekers.
No insights yet. Be the first to share your understanding of this verse.