तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः | प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ||१७-२४||
tasmādomityudāhṛtya yajñadānatapaḥkriyāḥ . pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satataṃ brahmavādinām ||17-24||
Chapter 17 · Verse 24
Shraddha Traya Vibhaga Yoga
श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोग
In plain words
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.
Translation
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.
Meaning
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.
Word by word
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.