The essence of all beings is the earth, the essence of the earth is water, the essence of water the plants, the essence of plants man, the essence of man speech, the essence of speech the Rig-veda, the essence of the Rig-veda the Sâma-veda, the essence of the Sâma-veda the udgîtha (which is Om).

In plain words: The text traces a chain of essences, each the best part of the one before. The earth is the essence of all beings, and the chain runs through water, plants, people, speech and the sacred hymns. At the very top is Om.