Naama 446-450: The goal of those who follow the path of action (Pravritti Dharma)

यज्ञ इज्यो महेज्यश्च क्रतुस्सत्रं सताङ्गतिः ।

सर्वदर्शी निवृत्तात्मा सर्वज्ञो ज्ञानमुत्तमम् ॥ ४८ ॥

yajña ijyō mahējyaśca kratussatraṃ satāṅgatiḥ |

sarvadarśī nivṛttātmā sarvajñō jñānamuttamam || 48 ||

446. yajñaḥ · यज्ञः

The one who is the sacrifice itself. In the Vishnu Purana, the Lord is described as the sacrifice, the means to it, and its fruit.

(oṃ) yajñāya namaḥ

It is said, "Sacrifice itself is Vishnu" (yajñō vai viṣṇuḥ).

447. ijyaḥ · इज्यः

The one who alone is the true object of the worship that is done indirectly through Indra and other devatas by people who seek lesser fruits.

(oṃ) ijyāya namaḥ

Lord Krishna says in the Gita, "Those who are devotees of other gods and worship them with faith, they too worship only Me, but not in the proper way."

448. mahējyaḥ · महेज्यः

The one who is the object of the highest worship, which is not tainted by the desire for other fruits.

(oṃ) mahējyāya namaḥ

Lord Krishna says, "Surrendering all actions to Me, with your mind devoted to the Self, free from desire and selfishness, fight without the fever of attachment."

449. kratuḥ · क्रतुः

The one who is worshipped through all the sacrifices, such as the five great yajnas, the seven paaka-yajnas, the seven havir-yajnas, and the seven soma-yajnas.

(oṃ) kratavē namaḥ

The five great yajnas (pañca mahāyajñas) are: Brahma-yajna (learning and teaching the Vedas), Pitru-yajna (offering water to the ancestors), Deva-yajna (offerings to the devas through fire), Bhoota-yajna (offering food to all beings), and Manushya-yajna (hospitality towards guests).

450. satram · सत्रम्

The one who is worshipped through the long sacrifice called satram, conducted by many yajamanas together for many days.

(oṃ) satrāya namaḥ

A satra is a sacrifice done over a very long time, with many performers, for the welfare of the whole world. Sri Bhattar's words are "dīrgha kāla bahu yajamānaka", "lasting a long time, with many performers." One commentator observes that the common work of feeding many people, as in the free kitchens (annasatram) that are still called by this name, comes from the same spirit.

451. satāṃ gatiḥ · सतां गतिः

The one who is the goal of the pious, those who follow Nivritti Dharma and have turned away from worldly pleasures.

(oṃ) satāṃ gatayē namaḥ

So far, the Lord has been described as the goal of those who follow Pravritti Dharma, the path of action in the world. This naama says that He is also the goal of those who follow Nivritti Dharma, the path of renunciation. The Vishnu Purana says, "O Brahmin! That sublime place is for the yogis who have washed off the mire of sins and controlled their minds."

452. sarvadarśī · सर्वदर्शी

The one whose nature is to preside over and witness the practice of both kinds of dharma, Pravritti and Nivritti.

(oṃ) sarvadarśinē namaḥ

Because He is the inner controller (antaryāmī) of all beings, He sees all their good and evil actions even when they are not aware of it. Just as the sun is called "the eye of the world", the Lord is the one by whose light everything is seen.