Bhagavad Gita 17.26
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 26 of 28
सद्भावे साधुभावे च सद् इत्य् एतत् प्रयुज्यते । प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते ॥
sad-bhāve sādhu-bhāve ca sad ity etat prayujyate | praśaste karmaṇi tathā sac-chabdaḥ pārtha yujyate ||
Sat means: being/reality, goodness/virtue, and praiseworthy action — three registers of the one word.
Word by word (3)
- sad-bhāve sādhu-bhāve ca sad ity etat prayujyate
- — Sat is used (prayujyate = applied) in the sense of being/existence (sad-bhāva = the state of being, reality) and in the sense of goodness/virtue (sādhu-bhāva = the state of being sādhu/good) — two primary meanings: ontological (what IS) and ethical (what is GOOD)
- praśaste karmaṇi tathā sac-chabdaḥ pārtha yujyate
- — and likewise (tathā) in praiseworthy/auspicious action (praśaste karmaṇi), O Pārtha, the word Sat (sac-chabdaḥ = the sound/word 'Sat') is applied (yujyate = is joined/fitted) — a third meaning: Sat = auspicious, worthy action
- sac-chabdaḥ
- — the word/sound (śabdaḥ) 'Sat' — the teaching here is specifically about the word's range of meanings; the three meanings (existence, goodness, auspicious action) span the ontological, ethical, and practical dimensions of Sat
The word 'Sat' is used in the sense of existence/reality and of goodness/virtue; and similarly, O Pārtha, the word 'Sat' is used in the sense of an auspicious/praiseworthy act.
A modern analogy
The English word 'real' carries some of the same range: something can be 'real' in the sense of 'actually existing,' 'real' in the sense of 'authentic or genuine,' and 'real' in the colloquial sense of 'truly good or virtuous.' Sat in Sanskrit spans all three: it means existence, it means goodness, and it means praiseworthy. This verse and the next clarify that when we say an act is 'Sat' or dedicate it to 'Sat,' we invoke all three meanings simultaneously — and the next verse adds that steadiness in yajña, tapas, and dāna is itself called Sat.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
The word 'Sat' is used in the sense of reality and of goodness; and so also, O Partha, the word 'Sat' is used in the sense of an auspicious act. [1]
The word "Sat" is used in the sense of reality and of goodness; and so also, O Partha, the word "Sat" is used in the sense of an auspicious act. [4]
The word 'Sat' is used in the sense of existence and goodness; and, O son of Pritha! the word 'Sat' is also used for an auspicious act. [9]
The word 'Sat' is used in the sense of good qualities and of the nature of Brahman. The word Sat is also used for an auspicious act, O Partha. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
What they call sannyāsa — know it as yoga, O Pāṇḍava — for none becomes a yogī without renouncing saṃkalpa.
Sannyāsa = abandoning desire-motivated action; tyāga = abandoning fruits of ALL action — say the learned.
Therefore, Brahman-knowers always begin yajña, dāna, and tapas with 'OṀ' as ordained by scripture.
Do My work, hold Me supreme, be My devotee, attachment-free, without enmity toward all — such a one comes to Me!
Acting for reward is the lowest form of action. Seek the wisdom that transcends reward-seeking.
Uttering 'Tat,' without fruit-desire, mokṣa-seekers perform yajña, tapas, and various acts of dāna.
Verse 26 of 28 · back to Chapter 17