Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, Verse 27

Chapter 17 – Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते ।
कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते ॥

Transliteration

yajñe tapasi dāne ca sthitiḥ saditi cocyate .
karma caiva tadarthīyaṃ sadityevābhidhīyate ॥

Meaning

Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity and charity is also called 'Sat', and any action performed for the sake of the Supreme is likewise called 'Sat'.

Word meanings

यज्ञे – in sacrifice
तपसि – in austerity
दाने – in charity
च – and
स्थितिः – steadfastness
सत् – 'Sat'
इति – thus
च – also
उच्यते – is called
कर्म – action
च एव – and also
तदर्थीयम् – for the sake of That (the Supreme)
सत् – 'Sat'
इति एव – indeed thus
अभिधीयते – is designated

Anvaya (word order)

यज्ञे तपसि दाने च (या) स्थितिः (सा) च ‘सत्’ इति उच्यते; तदर्थीयं कर्म च एव ‘सत्’ इति एव अभिधीयते ।

Explanation

The previous verse gave three meanings of Sat; here Krishna adds two further uses that are especially important for the seeker.

First, yajne tapasi dane cha sthitih sad iti chochyate: steadfastness, firmness and continuity in sacrifice, austerity and charity is also called Sat. Performing a sacrifice once or giving occasionally is not enough; remaining steady and regular in such good works is Sat. When someone keeps up worship, service or giving faithfully every day for years, that very constancy is Sat. It is through continuity that practice bears fruit.

Second, karma chaiva tad-arthiyam sad ity evabhidhiyate: action tad-arthiya, 'for the sake of That', is also called Sat. Tat here denotes the Supreme. Shankara reads it as action done for the sake of the Lord. Any action at all, whether cleaning a temple, feeding the hungry or doing one's daily duty, becomes Sat when done for God. Some commentators also take tad-arthiya to mean actions that support sacrifice, austerity and charity, such as gathering the materials for a sacrifice.

The verse shows that Sat is not merely a word but an outlook on life. When our actions are good, steady and offered to God, our whole life becomes Sat. Thus Om sanctifies the beginning of an action, Tat its spirit, and Sat its quality and constancy.

Context

The previous verse gave three meanings of Sat; this verse adds two more uses. In the final verse Krishna declares that whatever is done without faith is Asat.

Life lesson

Doing good occasionally is not enough; continuity and dedication make it Sat. Do even your smallest tasks for God, and they become sacred.

Key terms

Sthiti: Steadfastness and continuity in sacrifice, austerity and charity
Tad-arthiya karma: Action performed for the sake of the Supreme