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17.23Krishna
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ॐ तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः ।ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा ॥

oṃ tat sad iti nirdeśo brahmaṇas trividhaḥ smṛtaḥ |brāhmaṇās tena vedāś ca yajñāś ca vihitāḥ purā ||

ॐ तत् सत् · oṃ tat sat
Om Tat Sat
इति · iti
thus
निर्देशः · nirdeśaḥ
designation, pointer
त्रिविधः · trividhaḥ
threefold
स्मृतः · smṛtaḥ
remembered, taught
ब्राह्मणाः · brāhmaṇāḥ
the knowers of Brahman (brahmanas)
तेन · tena
by that
वेदाः · vedāḥ
the Vedas
विहिताः · vihitāḥ
ordained
पुरा · purā
of old

'Om Tat Sat' is remembered as the threefold pointer to Brahman — by it, of old, the knowers of Brahman, the Vedas, and sacrifices were ordained.

Original plain-language translation

IN SHORT A sacred sound can steady you and remind you of deeper purpose.

The chapter turns from sorting acts to hallowing them: the ancient triple name of the Absolute. Every sacred tradition needs words that carry the whole — Om Tat Sat is the Vedic shorthand for ultimate reality. The next three verses unpack each syllable. It is like an official government stamp with three seals that makes every office paper valid.

Reader's notes (original)