Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Verse 24 — Meaning & Life Application
Sanskrit Shloka (Original)
तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः | प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ||१७-२४||
Transliteration
tasmādomityudāhṛtya yajñadānatapaḥkriyāḥ . pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satataṃ brahmavādinām ||17-24||
Word-by-Word Meaning
📖 Translation
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.
।।17.24।। इसलिए, ब्रह्मवादियों की शास्त्र प्रतिपादित यज्ञ, दान और तप की क्रियायें सदैव ओंकार के उच्चारण के साथ प्रारम्भ होती हैं।।
How to Apply This Verse in Modern Life
💼 At Work & Career
Before initiating any significant task, project, or meeting, take a brief moment to set a clear, positive intention. Dedicate your efforts not just to personal gain, but to excellence, service, or the greater good of the organization. This practice transforms work from a mere chore into a purposeful contribution, fostering deeper engagement and higher quality outcomes.
🧘 For Stress & Anxiety
When faced with stressful situations or at the start of a busy day, pause for a conscious moment of centering. This could involve deep breathing, a positive affirmation, or a brief mental dedication of your efforts to a larger, more peaceful purpose. This mindful commencement acts as a mental buffer, reducing reactivity and allowing you to approach challenges with greater clarity and a sense of calm, rather than being swept away by anxiety.
❤️ In Relationships
Before engaging in important conversations, resolving conflicts, or even daily interactions with loved ones, consciously set an intention for compassion, understanding, and selfless contribution to the relationship. This shifts the focus from ego-driven reactions or demands to a thoughtful, empathetic approach, fostering stronger bonds and more harmonious connections.
When to Chant/Recall This Verse
Solves These Life Problems
Key Message in One Line
“Consciously begin every endeavor with a sacred intention and focused awareness, transforming routine actions into purposeful offerings aligned with a higher consciousness.”
🕉️ Council of Sages
Compare interpretations from revered Acharyas and scholars
🌍 English Interpretations
Swami Sivananda
17.24 तस्मात् therefore? Om? इति thus? उदाहृत्य uttering? यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः the acts of sacrifice? gift and austerity? प्रवर्तन्ते begin? विधानोक्ताः as enjoined in the scriptures? सततम् always? ब्रह्मवादिनाम् of the students of Brahman. Commentary Those who are knowers of the scriptures have a vivid impression of Om in their minds by means of meditation and then they will utter the Pranava with the proper attitude and feeling. Then meditating on Om and uttering it? they perform the sacrifices. Just as a hillstick is very useful in climbing a hill? just as a boat is very useful in crossing a river? so also Om is very useful and important at the commencement of an action or sacrifice.It is not desirable to renounce actions or sacrifices to attain union with the Lord. What is wanted is total and perfect surrender of all actions to God. Sacrifice? charity and austerity are not hindrances to the attainment of Selfrealisation on the contrary the attainment of liberation is rendered easy by their performance without any selfish desires or egoism.
Shri Purohit Swami
17.24 Therefore all acts of sacrifice, gifts and austerities, prescribed by the scriptures, are always begun by those who understand the Spirit with the word Om.
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
17.24. Therefore, the scripture-prescribed acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity of those who are habituated to have Brahman-discourses, commence (or take place) invariably, with the utterance of OM.
Swami Adidevananda
17.24 Therefore, the Veda-enjoined sacrificial acts, gifts and austerity by these expounders of the Veda, or those belonging to the first three stations are always and at all times begun after pronouncing Om at the beginning.
Swami Gambirananda
17.24 Therefore, acts of sacrifice, charity and austerity as prescribed through injunctions, of those who study and expound the Vedas, always commence after uttering the syllable Om.
🇮🇳 Hindi Interpretations
Swami Chinmayananda
।।17.24।। ब्रह्मवादियों से तात्पर्य सात्त्विक? जिज्ञासु साधकों से है। अपने सभी कर्मों में परमात्मा का स्मरण रखने से उन्हें श्रेष्ठता? शुद्धता और दिव्यता प्राप्त होती है। परमात्मा के स्मरण में ही अहंकार और उसके बन्धनों का विस्मरण है। अहंकार के अभाव में? साधक अपने तपाचरण में अधिक कुशल? यज्ञ कर्मों में निस्वार्थ और दान में अधिक उदार बन जाता है।
Swami Ramsukhdas
।।17.24।। व्याख्या -- तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य ৷৷. ब्रह्मवादिनाम् -- वेदवादीके लिये अर्थात् वेदोंको मुख्य माननेवाला जो वैदिक सम्प्रदाय है? उसके लिये का उच्चारण करना खास बताया है। वे का उच्चारण करके ही वेदपाठ? यज्ञ? दान? तप आदि शास्त्रविहित क्रियाओंमें प्रवृत्त होते हैं क्योंकि जैसे गायें साँड़के बिना फलवती नहीं होतीं? ऐसे ही वेदकी जितनी ऋचाएँ हैं? श्रुतियाँ हैं? वे सब का उच्चारण किये बिना फलवती नहीं होतीं अर्थात् फल नहीं देतीं। का सबसे पहले उच्चारण क्यों किया जाता है कारण कि सबसे पहले -- प्रणव प्रकट हुआ है। उस प्रणवकी तीन मात्राएँ हैं। उन मात्राओंसे त्रिपदा गायत्री प्रकट हुई है और त्रिपदा गायत्रीसे ऋक? साम और यजुः -- यह वेदत्रयी प्रकट हुई है। इस दृष्टिसे सबका मूल है और इसीके अन्तर्गत गायत्री भी है तथा सबकेसब वेद भी हैं। अतः जितनी वैदिक क्रियाएँ की जाती हैं? वे सब का उच्चारण करके ही की जाती हैं।
Swami Tejomayananda
।।17.24।। इसलिए, ब्रह्मवादियों की शास्त्र प्रतिपादित यज्ञ, दान और तप की क्रियायें सदैव ओंकार के उच्चारण के साथ प्रारम्भ होती हैं।।
📜 Sanskrit Commentaries
Sri Madhavacharya
।।17.24।।Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka.
Sri Anandgiri
।।17.24।।यस्माद्ब्राह्मणादीनां कारणं यस्माच्च ब्रह्मणो निर्देशस्तस्मादित्युपसंहरति -- तस्मादिति। ब्रह्मवादिनामित्यत्र ब्रह्म वेदः।
Sri Vallabhacharya
।।17.24।।त्रयाणामन्वयप्रकारं वदन्प्रथमंओं इत्यस्यान्वयप्रकारमाह -- तस्मादिति। स्पष्टम्।
Sridhara Swami
।।17.24।।इदानीं प्रत्येकमोंकारादीनां प्राशस्त्यं दर्शयिष्यन्नोंकारस्य तदेवाह -- तस्मादिति। यस्मादेवं ब्रह्मणो निर्देशः प्रशस्तस्तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य उच्चार्य कृता वेदवादीनां यज्ञाद्याः शास्त्रोक्ताः क्रियाः सततं सर्वदा अङ्गवैकल्येऽपि प्रकर्षेण वर्तन्ते। सगुणा भवन्तीत्यर्थः।