tasmaadomityudaahritya yajnyadaanatapahakriyaahaa |
pravartante vidhaanoktaahaa satatam brahmavaadinaam || 24 ||
Therefore, with the chanting of Om, are the acts of sacrifice, charity and penance, according to scripture, always begun by the followers of Vedas.
tasmaat : therefore
om : Om
iti : in this manner
udaahritya : chanting
yajnyadaanatapahakriyaahaa : acts of sacrifice, charity and penance
pravartante : begun
vidhaanoktaahaa : according to scripture
satatam : always
brahmavaadinaam : followers of Vedas
To connect to a website, we need its address. To call someone, we need their number. To hear a radio station, we need to tune the radio to the station’s frequency. Similarly, before we begin an action, we need to align our mind, to connect our mind, to Ishvara. We can only do so when the level of likes and dislikes, of raaga and dvesha, has been reduced to a great extent. Is there a way, a technique, by which we can quickly calm our mind down, and tone down our likes and dislikes?
Shri Krishna suggests that we chant Om prior to performing any sattvic action. Doing so sets up vibrations in our system. These vibrations reduce our likes and dislikes, and clear our mind of selfish thoughts. Visualizing the symbol of Om while chanting it is even better. Om has been used in this manner by those who have faith in the scriptures, who are performing acts of sacrifice, penance or charity. The more frequently we begin actions with Om, the more we will bring sattva into our actions.
In the Jnyaneshwari, Sant Jnyaneshwar points out that Om has an additional feature. Normally, acts of sacrifice, penance and charity bind us through attachment to their results. By adding Om, also known as the Pranava, to the start of any action helps us focus on the action and weakens attachment to the result. He says that the chanting of Om while commencing an action is as valuable as a steady light in deep darkness, and as an able-bodied companion while travelling in a jungle.
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