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Having enumerated the threefold typology inherent in nature and choice, the Bhagavad Gita speaks of the three utterances that signify the Supreme Being, their importance and purpose in usage. <blockquote>
 
Having enumerated the threefold typology inherent in nature and choice, the Bhagavad Gita speaks of the three utterances that signify the Supreme Being, their importance and purpose in usage. <blockquote>
ॐतत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः । ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा ॥१७.२३॥
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ॐतत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः । ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा ॥१७.२३॥<ref name=":0" />
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oṁtatsaditi nirdeśo brahmaṇastrividhaḥ smr̥taḥ । brāhmaṇāstena vedāśca yajñāśca vihitāḥ purā ॥17.23॥</blockquote>Meaning: Om Tat Sat - this has been declared as the threefold designation of Brahman. These three symbolic representations were used, since the earlier times, by brahmanas while chanting the hymns of the Vedas and during yajnas.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" />
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For, any defect in yajna, dana, tapa or karma is redeemed by the utterance of one of the three symbols of Brahman ie. Om, Tat, Sat as it purifies the minds of the devotees and gradually enables them to realize Brahman. Therefore, Shri Krishna here is suggesting the way of purifying an imperfect action.<ref name=":1" />
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When a sacrificial rite or the like is found defective, it will be made faultless by the utterance of one of these three symbols of Brahman.<ref name=":1" />
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oṁtatsaditi nirdeśo brahmaṇastrividhaḥ smr̥taḥ । brāhmaṇāstena vedāśca yajñāśca vihitāḥ purā ॥17.23॥</blockquote>Meaning: Om Tat Sat - this has been declared as the threefold designation of Brahman. These three symbolic representations were used, since the earlier times, by brahmanas while chanting the hymns of the Vedas and during yajnas.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" />
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The three words are taken from Vedic hymns. Om ityetad brahmano nedistham nama (Rgveda) indicates the first goal.
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For, any defect in yajna, dana, tapa or karma is redeemed by the utterance of one of the three symbols of Brahman ie. Om, Tat, Sat as it purifies the minds of the devotees and gradually enables them to realize Brahman. Therefore, Shri Krishna here is suggesting the way of purifying an imperfect action.<ref name=":1" /> Highlighting the purpose of Om Tat Sat, the Bhagavad Gita states,
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Then tat tvam asi (Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7) indicates the second goal. And sad eva saumya (Chandogya Upanishad 6.2.1) indicates the third goal. Combined they become Om tat sat.  
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* The acts of yajna, dana and tapa enjoined by the scriptures are always begun by the followers of the Vedas with the utterance of 'Om' (in order to attain the Supreme).<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" />
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* The various acts of yajna, tapa and dana are performed with the word tat, without desiring for fruits, by those who seek moksha or freedom from material entanglement.<ref name=":5" /> Thus, the utterance of 'Tat' at the beginning of a yajna, tapa or dana purifies the heart and eliminates the desire for fruit.
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Bhagavad Gita recommends, therefore, that any work done should be done for om tat sat or for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.<ref name=":5" />
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* The word 'Sat' is used to denote reality and goodness; And is used for an auspicious action. Steadfastness in yajna, tapa and dana is also called Sat and so too is any action connected therewith.<ref name=":1" />
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<blockquote>तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः । प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ॥१७.२४॥
 
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तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः । प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ॥१७.२४॥
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Therefore, transcendentalists undertaking performances of sacrifice, charity and penance in accordance with scriptural regulations begin always with om to attain the Supreme.<ref name=":5" />
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Therefore, the acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity enjoined by the scriptures are always begun by the followers of the Vedas with the utterance of 'Om'<ref name=":1" />
      
तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः । दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः ॥१७.२५॥
 
तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः । दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः ॥१७.२५॥
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Without desiring fruitive results, one should perform various kinds of sacrifice, penance and charity with the word tat. The purpose of such transcendental ativities is to get free from material entanglement.<ref name=":5" />
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And with the utterance of 'Tat', and without seeking any recompense, are the various acts of sacrifice, austerity and gift performed by those who seek liberation.
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The utterance of 'Tat' at the beginning of a sacrifice, austerity or gift purifies the heart and eliminates the desire for fruit.<ref name=":1" />
      
सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते । प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते ॥१७.२६॥
 
सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते । प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते ॥१७.२६॥
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The word 'Sat' is used to denote reality and goodness; and likewise, O Partha, the word 'Sat' is used for an auspicious action.<ref name=":1" />
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यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते । कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते ॥१७.२७॥<ref name=":0" />
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=== Sat & Asat ===
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tasmādomityudāhr̥tya yajñadānatapaḥkriyāḥ pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satataṁ brahmavādinām ॥17.24॥
यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते ॥१७.२७॥
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The Absolute Truth is the objective of devotional sacrifice and it is indicated by the word sat. The performer of such sacrifice is also called sat as are all works of sacrifice, penance and charity which, true to the absolute nature are performed to please the Supreme Person, O son of Prtha.<ref name=":5" />
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tadityanabhisandhāya phalaṁ yajñatapaḥkriyāḥ । dānakriyāśca vividhāḥ kriyante mokṣakāṅkṣibhiḥ ॥17.25॥
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Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity and gift is also called Sat and so too is any action connected therewith.
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sadbhāve sādhubhāve ca sadityetatprayujyate । praśaste karmaṇi tathā sacchabdaḥ pārtha yujyate ॥17.26॥
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Imperfectly performed acts of sacrifice, austerity and gift are made perfect by the utterance, with faith, of 'Sat' the name of Brahman.
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yajñe tapasi dāne ca sthitiḥ saditi cocyate । karma caiva tadarthīyaṁ sadityevābhidhīyate ॥17.27॥</blockquote>The three words are taken from Vedic hymns. Om ityetad brahmano nedistham nama (Rgveda) indicates the first goal.
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But without faith everything is futile.<ref name=":1" />
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Then tat tvam asi (Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7) indicates the second goal. And sad eva saumya (Chandogya Upanishad 6.2.1) indicates the third goal. Combined they become Om tat sat.
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अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् । असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ॥१७.२८॥
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Bhagavad Gita recommends, therefore, that any work done should be done for om tat sat or for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.<ref name=":5" />
 
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Anything done as sacrifice, charity or penance without faith in the Supreme, O son of Prtha, is impermanent. It is called asat and is useless both in this life and the next.<ref name=":5" />
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Whatever sacrifice or gift is made, whatever austerity is practised, whatever ceremony is observed - it is called 'asat' 'non-existent' if it is done without faith. It is of no account here or hereafter.
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Non-existent - That is to say, it is as good as not performed, because it does not bring any result.<ref name=":1" />
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ॐ तत्सदिति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सु ब्रह्मविद्यायां योगशास्त्रे  श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगो नाम सप्तदशोऽध्यायः ॥१७॥
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And it is based on one’s shraddha and inherent qualities, that one chooses the kind of yajna, tapas and dana one performs.<ref name=":2" /> And as explained in the previous section of the article, one's choice of yajna, dana, tapa or karma depends on one's inherent qualities that are driven either by Sattva, Rajas or Tamas.
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== श्रद्धायाः महत्त्वम् ॥ Importance of Shraddha ==
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Following the explanation of "Om Tat Sat" as the medium and goal of actions, it is iterated that the absence of shraddha qualifies the action as 'Asat'.<ref name=":5" /> By corollary, it means that shraddha is the factor that facilitates the fruition of one's actions into being 'Sat' ie. good, auspicious and steadfast.<blockquote>अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् । असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ॥१७.२८॥<ref name=":0" />
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Shraddha is the foundation of Yajna, Dana, Tapa and Karma as it is the presence of shraddha that makes them virtuous.
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aśraddhayā hutaṁ dattaṁ tapastaptaṁ kr̥taṁ ca yat । asadityucyate pārtha na ca tatpretya no iha ॥17.28॥</blockquote>Meaning: Any yajna, dana, tapa or action done without shraddha, is termed as 'asat' ie. non-existent or impermanent. And is of no use in this life or the other.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" />
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As is the kind of shraddha, so develops the nature of the person. Thus, in all things like [[Yajna (यज्ञः)|yajna]], worship, [[Dana (दानम्)|charity]], penance, etc., these qualities become expressed in accordance with the kind of shraddha in which the person concerned is based and they produce results in accordance with the quality of the doer’s shraddha.<ref name=":6" />
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Such actions are as good as not performed because they do not bring any result.<ref name=":1" /> Shraddha is the foundation of Yajna, Dana, Tapa and Karma.<ref name=":6" /> It is the presence of shraddha that makes them virtuous. And therefore, without shraddha, everything is futile.<ref name=":1" />
    
== References ==
 
== References ==

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