Chapter 17, Verse 24
तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः | प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ||१७-२४||
tasmādomityudāhṛtya yajñadānatapaḥkriyāḥ . pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satataṃ brahmavādinām ||17-24||
Meaning
17.24 Therefore, with the utterance of "Om" are the acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity as enjoined in the scriptures, always begun by the students of Brahman.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Krishna now explains how each part of the sacred formula is applied in practice, beginning with Om. The brahmavadinah — those devoted to the knowledge of Brahman — always commence their acts of yajna (sacrifice), dana (charity), and tapas (austerity) by first uttering 'Om.' This single syllable consecrates the action, orienting it toward the Supreme before it begins.
The teaching offers a beautiful spiritual discipline of remembrance. By invoking Om at the threshold of any noble act, the practitioner dedicates it to the Divine and lifts it out of mere self-interest. The utterance is a turning of attention away from the ego and toward the Absolute, transforming routine deeds into sacred offerings. In this way even ordinary acts of giving and discipline become acts of devotion, beginning not with 'I' but with the remembrance of That which is beyond all gunas.
💡 Key Takeaway
Begin meaningful actions by dedicating them to the Divine — that remembrance lifts ordinary deeds into sacred offerings.
Related Verses
आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः | यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं शृणु ||१७-७||
āhārastvapi sarvasya trividho bhavati priyaḥ . yajñastapastathā dānaṃ teṣāṃ bhedamimaṃ śṛṇu ||17-7||
17.7 The food also which is dear to each is threefold, as also sacrifice, austerity and almsgiving. Hear thou the distinction of these.
अफलाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते | यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः ||१७-११||
aphalāṅkṣibhiryajño vidhidṛṣṭo ya ijyate . yaṣṭavyameveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ ||17-11||
17.11 That sacrifice which is offered by men without desire for reward as enjoined by the ordinance (scripture), with a firm faith that to do so is a duty, is Sattvic or pure.
अभिसन्धाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत् | इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम् ||१७-१२||
abhisandhāya tu phalaṃ dambhārthamapi caiva yat . ijyate bharataśreṣṭha taṃ yajñaṃ viddhi rājasam ||17-12||
17.12 The sacrifice which is offered, O Arjuna, seeking a reward and for ostentation, know thou that to be a Rajasic Yajna.