FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 17.26-27

సద్భ‍ావే సాధుభావే చ సదిత్యేతత్ప్రయుజ్యతే । ప్రశస్తే కర్మణి తథా సచ్ఛబ్ద: పార్థ యుజ్యతే ॥ ౨౬ ॥ యజ్ఞే తపసి దానే చ స్థితి: సదితి చోచ్యతే । కర్మ చైవ తదర్థీయం సదిత్యేవాభిధీయతే ॥ ౨౭ ॥
sad-bhāve sādhu-bhāve ca
[sad-bhaave saadhu-bhaave cha]
sad ity etat prayujyate
[sad ity etat prayujyate]
praśaste karmaṇi tathā
[prashaste karmani tathaa]
sac-chabdaḥ pārtha yujyate
[sach-chabdah paartha yujyate]
yajñe tapasi dāne ca
[yajne tapasi daane cha]
sthitiḥ sad iti cocyate
[sthitih sad iti chochyate]
karma caiva tad-arthīyaṁ
[karma chaiva tad-artheeyam]
sad ity evābhidhīyate
[sad ity evaabhidheeyate]
Word-for-word
sat - bhāve — in the sense of the nature of the Supreme sādhu - bhāve — in the sense of the nature of the devotee ca — also sat — the word sat iti — thus etat — this prayujyate — is used praśaste — in bona fide karmaṇi — activities tathā — also sat - śabdaḥ — the sound sat pārtha — O son of Pṛthā yujyate — is used yajñe — in sacrifice tapasi — in penance dāne — in charity ca — also sthitiḥ — the situation sat — the Supreme iti — thus ca — and ucyate — is pronounced karma — work ca — also eva — certainly tat — for that arthīyam — meant sat — the Supreme iti — thus eva — certainly abhidhīyate — is indicated .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sad-bhāve sādhu-bhāve ca
sat - bhāve
in the sense of the nature of the Supreme
sādhu - bhāve
in the sense of the nature of the devotee
ca
also
sad ity etat prayujyate
sat
the word sat
iti
thus
etat
this
prayujyate
is used
praśaste karmaṇi tathā
praśaste
in bona fide
karmaṇi
activities
tathā
also
sac-chabdaḥ pārtha yujyate
sat - śabdaḥ
the sound sat
pārtha
O son of Pṛthā
yujyate
is used
yajñe tapasi dāne ca
yajñe
in sacrifice
tapasi
in penance
dāne
in charity
ca
also
sthitiḥ sad iti cocyate
sthitiḥ
the situation
sat
the Supreme
iti
thus
karma caiva tad-arthīyaṁ
ca
and
ucyate
is pronounced
karma
work
ca
also
sad ity evābhidhīyate
eva
certainly
tat
for that
arthīyam
meant
sat
the Supreme
iti
thus
eva
certainly
abhidhīyate
is indicated .
Important Words
  • sat - bhāve — in the sense of the nature of the Supreme
    Locative compound: sat (the real) + bhāva (nature, mood). The verse opens by declaring that the syllable sat is *first* applied to the Lord's own nature. Bhāva here is technical: not generic mood but ontological character. Sat-bhāva is what the Supreme intrinsically *is*.
  • sādhu - bhāve — in the sense of the nature of the devotee
    The twin compound: sādhu (the saintly person) + bhāva. Paired with sat-bhāve. The grammar refuses to separate the two — the devotee participates in sat by being yoked to it. Sādhu-bhāva is the participatory mode of sat-bhāva.
  • sat - śabdaḥ — the sound sat
    Compound: sat + śabda (sound, word). The śabda-brahman dimension again. The audible utterance of sat is itself a participation in the reality sat names. Sound and substance fused — the perennial Vedic claim that the word, rightly uttered, carries the thing.
  • karmaṇi — activities
    Locative of karman — action. Used in the verse with praśaste (praised, approved). Sat consecrates the praiseworthy act — and conversely, the use of sat marks the act *as* praiseworthy. The same word karman that runs through the whole Gītā here gets its highest qualifying epithet: sat-praśaste-karmaṇi.
  • sthitiḥ — the situation, the standing
    From √sthā — to stand. The same root that gave niṣṭhā in 17.1. The chapter ends as it began: by asking where one stands. The answer: in sat — the only standing that endures.
  • arthīyam — meant for
    From artha (purpose) + suffix -īya. 'For-the-purpose-of.' In the verse it modifies karma in conjunction with tat: 'action meant for *that* (the Supreme).' The whole chapter culminates in this prepositional structure of devotion: every act *meant for* the Lord, not for the doer.
The Absolute Truth is the objective of devotional sacrifice, and it is indicated by the word sat. The performer of such sacrifice is also called sat, as are all works of sacrifice, penance and charity which, true to the absolute nature, are performed to please the Supreme Person, O son of Pṛthā.
Purport

The words praśaste karmaṇi, or “prescribed duties,” indicate that there are many activities prescribed in the Vedic literature which are purificatory processes, beginning from the time of conception up to the end of one’s life. Such purificatory processes are adopted for the ultimate liberation of the living entity. In all such activities it is recommended that one vibrate oṁ tat sat. The words sad-bhāve and sādhu-bhāve indicate the transcendental situation. Acting in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is called sattva, and one who is fully conscious of the activities of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is called a sādhu. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.25.25) it is said that the transcendental subject matter becomes clear in the association of the devotees. The words used are satāṁ prasaṅgāt. Without good association, one cannot achieve transcendental knowledge. When initiating a person or offering the sacred thread, one vibrates the words oṁ tat sat. Similarly, in all kinds of performance of yajña the object is the Supreme, oṁ tat sat. The word tad-arthīyam further means offering service to anything which represents the Supreme, including such service as cooking and helping in the Lord’s temple, or any other kind of work for broadcasting the glories of the Lord. These supreme words oṁ tat sat are thus used in many ways to perfect all activities and make everything complete.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

Here, the direct indications of devotional service, are given ‑ the work should be done in the mode of goodness with the purpose the Supreme.

[2. Sacrifice, penance, and austerity done without faith in the Supreme ‑ without a transcendental objective ‑ are useless both in this life and the next. (28) ]

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

COMMON THEME: Describes ‘sat’ – Help to dedicate activity to the pleasure of Lord and His devotees

The Absolute Truth is the objective of devotional sacrifice, it is indicated by the word ‘sat’
The performer of such sacrifice is also called ‘sat’
All works of sacrifice, charity and penance performed to please the Lord are also called ‘sat’ and they reveal the true spiritual nature LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 17.27 & 17.28: After hearing which activities are sat, one naturally wishes to know which activities are asat. Krishna responds to this query in the final verse of this chapter.

Focus of Learning

(a) Imporance of the words “Prasaste karmani” – This indicates prescribed Vedic duties which are

the purificatory processes from the time of conception to the end of one’s life

Purpose – Meant for ultimate liberation
Recommendation – In all such activities one should vibrate “Om tat sat”

(b) Importance of the words “Sad-bhave” and “Sadhu-bhave” – Indicates the transcendental

situation

Acting in Krishna consciousness is called ‘sattva’
One who is fully conscious of Krishna conscious activities is called ‘sadhu’
Ref. SB 3.25.25: Emphasizes association of devotees (“satam prasangat…”)

(c) PRACTICAL APPLICATION – ‘Om tat sat’ is used when initiating a person or offering a sacred

thread and many other yajnas

(d) Importance of “Tad-arthiyam” – Implies offering service to anything which represents the

Supreme

e.g. Cooking and helping in the Lords temple or any other kind of work for broadcasting Lord’s glories

(e) Conclusion – These Supreme words ‘Om tat sat’ are thus used in many ways to perfect all

activities and make everything complete

Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
17.26 Etat, this; sat iti, word sat, a name of Brahman; prayujyate, is used, is uttered; sad-bhave, with regard to (something) coming into being-with regard to coming into existence of something that was not there, as for instance the birth of a son who was not there before; so also sadhu-bhave, with regard to (someone) becoming good-sadhu-bhava means coming to possess good conduct by an evil person who had bad behaviour; with regard to that. Tatha, so also, O Son of Prtha; the sat-sabdah, word sat; yujyate (-which is the same as prayujyate-), is used; prasaste karmani, with regard to an auspicious rite, such as mirage etc.
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
17.26 The word Sat is applied in Vedic and common usage, in respect of all contexts to express existence (Sadbhava) and auspiciousness (Sadhubhava). Similarly, in relation to any praiseworthy worldly act, viz., auspicious undertaking by someone, the word Sat is applied to express, 'This is a good act.'
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
17.26 See Comment under 17.27
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
17.26 The word ï1Satï1 is used in the sense of reality and of goodness; and so also, O Arjuna, the word ï1Satï1 is used in the sense of an auspicious act.
Commentary

17.26 सद्भावे in the sense of reality? साधुभावे in the sense of goodness? च and? सत् Sat? इति thus? एतत् this? प्रयुज्यते is used? प्रशस्ते auspicious? कर्मणि (in the sense of) an act? तथा so also? सत् Sat? शब्दः word? पार्थ O Partha? युज्यते is used.Commentary Satbhava That which is unchanging amidst the changing? that which is permanent amidst the impermanent? that which exists in the past? present and future is Sat the reality behind the everchanging names and forms is Sat the substratum in which the everchanging forms inhere is Sat. Meritorious action is Sat.Sadhubhava An attribute of harmony with nature? so that the worlds cycle moves smoothly.The word Sat is powerful enough to make a defective action perfect and complete. When a good action is likely to be rendered Asat or bad owing to a single defect? the use of the word Sat makes it free from defects and brings it to a successful termination. The word Sat removes the evil ality of the action as it has the power of purifying and rendering the act perfect.Sat is Existence Absolute. Sat is Para Brahman. Sat is the inexpressible symbol of that mysterious indescribable? illimitable? indivisible? selfluminous? immortal Brahman.The word Sat is used when you wish to express the reality of an object which is unreal or which is relatively real? as for instance? the birth of a son who is unreal or relatively real in telling that a man is one of good conduct when his conduct is not good or is only relatively good? and in expressing that an act is auspicious? when it is not auspicious or only relatively auspicious.Brahman alone is real. It alone really exists. But we say when a son is born to Mr. Govindan that Mr. Govindans son has come into existence. From the viewpoint of Brahman or Existence Absolute? Mr. Govindans son never exists.The word Sat which is only applied to Brahman is used also for Mr. Govindans son who is unreal or relatively real. Brahman alone is absolutely good and absolutely auspicious. But the,word Sat that can properly be applied to Brahman alone is applied to an act which is not auspicious or which is only relatively auspicious. The use of Sat renders the imperfectly performed actions perfect.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
17.26 This word sat is used with regard to (something) coming into being and with regard to (someone) becoming good. So also, O son of Prtha, the word sat is used with regard to an auspicious rite.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
17.26 Sat' means Reality or the highest Good, and also, O Arjuna, it is used to mean an action of exceptional merit.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)
Related verses
BG 9.27 BG 2.16 BG 10.4-5 SB 1.1.1 SB 1.2.11 SB 2.10.2 CC Madhya 25.58 CC Ādi 1.3 CC Ādi 2.11 Chāndogya Upaniṣad 6.2.1Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.3.28
Concepts
BhavaYajna
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Sat indicates the absolute truth, the goal of devotional sacrifice — sacrifice, austerity, and charity in pursuit of the Absolute are also called Sat.
Practical Applications
  • Use Sat to mark acts oriented toward the Supreme.
  • Recognize that Sat is both reality and the practice oriented toward it.
  • Cultivate Sat-oriented activity.
Reflection Questions
  • Which of my activities qualify as Sat?
  • Which need redirection?
Analogy

Sat is like the sun, and sacrifice, charity, austerity, the sādhu, and the act itself are its rays — one in substance with their source yet never collapsed into it. Each ray shines only because it is held by the sun; each is still a ray and not the sun. The devotee remains the devotee and the act remains the act, but each becomes sat by being yoked to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Person whom sat names — simultaneously one with Him and distinct from Him.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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