Om Tat Sat and my learning from chapter 17 of Shrimadbhagwadgeeta today

Chapter 17 of the Shreemad Bhagwad Geeta is named Shraddha ke Vibhag, where Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna the three kinds of worship according to the three gunas — Satoguna, Rajoguna, and Tamoguna.
In this chapter, Krishna beautifully teaches how our intention matters in every action we perform in order to connect with the supreme power.

One of the most important learnings here is the significance of the three words Om Tat Sat during Yagya or Mantra-uccharan.
The last six shlokas (23–28) explain the meaning of these three divine words.

Shloka 23 is the Introduction to Om Tat Sat

श्रीभगवानुवाच
ॐ तत् सत् इति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः।
ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा॥ 17.23॥

Shloka 23 says that these three words: Om Tat Sat are used to call upon the Supreme Power. These names were used even during ancient Vedic times while performing mantras and yagyas.

Om : The Infinite Supreme (Shloka 24)

तस्माद् ॐ इत्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः।
प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम्॥ 17.24॥

Shloka 24 says that Om signifies the Supreme itself, the infinite, the universe, and everything between zero and infinity.
Om represents that divine supreme element connecting every existing particle in the Universe.
It is the sound of infinity, the vibration that holds creation together.

Whenever we begin any Vedic ritual with “Om,” we remember that everything starts from the Supreme.

Tat : Action Without Expectation (Shloka 25)

तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः।
दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः॥ 17.25॥

Shloka 25 explains Tat.
It means that whatever actions we do Yagya, Tapa, Sadhna, Daan, or any social or spiritual contribution, when done without any expectation, not even the expectation of earning good kar

Karma,then it becomes Tat.

In short, any seva, sacrifice, or sadhana done without attachment to the outcome, simply as an offering to the Divine, is Tat.

Sat :Truth, Purity, and Alignment With the Supreme (Shlokas 26–27)

सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते।
प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते॥ 17.26॥

यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते।
कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते॥ 17.27॥

Shlokas 26 and 27 say that when you practice the above two, remembering the Divine (Om) and surrendering all actions without expectation (Tat) ,you naturally come into alignment with the Supreme.
That state is Sat: the eternal truth, purity, your higher self, your humanity, your yogic alignment.

This is the Param Satya, the truth that exists within you, within humankind, and in the universe.
It is the state that truly pleases God.

Any service done wholeheartedly, with good intention, keeping only one goal in mind, that everything belongs to the Supreme and you are merely a medium, becomes Om Tat Sat.

Asat: When Intention Is Impure (Shloka 28)

अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत्।
असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह॥ 17.28॥

The last shloka says that if your intention is impure, or if you do any action with attachment to the outcome, ego, show-off, or without faith, then it becomes Asat ,
it goes waste in this life or in future life cycles.

This is why Om Tat Sat is spoken while performing Yagya, Tapa, and Daan, and also during any preaching by saints and yogis.
It reminds us to:invoke the Supreme (Om),surrender results (Tat) and stay aligned with eternal truth (Sat).And this transforms every action into a sacred offering .

Shweta