[Sidenote: 9. The First and Last.] Again Om is said to be the first and last of all things, because, says Táránátha, every thing proceeds from its centre as its source, and returns to that centre as its reservoir. तस्मान्निःसृताः सर्व्वेप्रलीयन्त तत्रबै । वाचस्पत्याभिधानं; or that every thing like the line of the circle meets at the same point from where it is drawn and stretched. Moreover Om as has been already said, is used both as the initial and final word of Mantras and prayers, so it is understood to be the beginning and end of all motions and utterances. In these senses it answers the _Alpha_ and _Omega_ of the Revelation, and the _initium_ and _finem_—_Hoal awl Hoal ákher_ of the Koran. [Sidenote: 10. The First, Last and Midst. आद्यन्त मध्यं ।] But _Om_ is declared again to be the first, last and midst of things, from its being uttered in the beginning, middle and end of prayers and recitals of sacred hymns according to the ordinance which says that, _Om_ is to be repeated thrice at every recital in the beginning, middle and end:—प्रशस्तं ब्राह्मणे नित्यं प्रणवत्रय संयुतं । मध्येच प्रणवं गुप्तंचाकारानुमं प्रिये । इति गायत्री तन्त्रं । This rule is said to bear reference to the triple state of the progression of mortal beings,—their evolution, sustentation and dissolution. यतोबाइमानि भूतानि जायन्ते येन जातानि । जीबन्ति यत् प्रयन्त्यभिसम्बिशन्ति तद्ब्र्ह्मेति ॥ The triple utterance of _Om_ has given rise to the triplicate invocation of Hari, आदाबन्तेच मध्येच हरिः सर्ब्बत्र गीयते, and with what Milton has expressed in his glorious hymn in the Paradise Lost. “Him first, Him last, Him midst, and without end.” The reverend Gaudapáda enjoins the same ordinance in his versified commentary or Káriká to the Mándukya Upanishad, where he says (verse 27):—सर्ब्बस्य प्रणबो ह्यादिर्मध्यमान्तस्तथैबच । एवं हि प्रणवं ज्ञात्वा ब्यश्नुते तदनन्तरं । VIII. APPLICATION OF _Om_ IN THE VEDAS AND VEDANTA. [Sidenote: 1. Pranava = Adorable.] “O venerable, let me enter thee (viz. the word Om)—the sheath of Brahmá, swáhá. O venerable do thou enter me, swáhá. O venerable, I shall be purified by thee.” (Taittiríya Up. IV. 3). [Sidenote: 2. The Burden of song.] “Om, the hymns of the Sáma Sing, _Om_, Som, the hymns proclaim.” [Sidenote: 3. Commanding and assenting.] “By Om, the Adhwarju gives his reply:—By Om the Brahmá commands;—By Om he gives his orders for the burnt offering” (Ibid VIII. Anuvák). [Sidenote: 4. Beginning.] “_Om_, says the Bráhman, when he commences to read the Veda.” (Ibid). [Sidenote: 5. Om is Multinymous.] “Om is Brahman, it is immortal, it is light, it is truthful, and a portion of holy light.” “It is the sun, the truthful, the Yajur, devotion, fire, wind and air.”