Bhagavad Gita 17.27
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 27 of 28
यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सद् इत्य् उच्यते । कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सद् इत्य् एवाभिधीयते ॥
yajñe tapasi dāne ca sthitiḥ sad ity ucyate | karma caiva tad-arthīyaṃ sad ity evābhidhīyate ||
Steadiness in yajña, tapas, and dāna is called Sat; and even supporting action for their sake is Sat.
Word by word (3)
- yajñe tapasi dāne ca sthitiḥ sad ity ucyate
- — steadiness/perseverance (sthitiḥ = standing firm, abiding) in sacrifice (yajña), austerity (tapas), and gift (dāna) — that is called (ucyate) Sat — the quality of Sat in the three-fold sacred practices
- karma caiva tad-arthīyam sad ity evābhidhīyate
- — and also (ca eva) action (karma) that serves these purposes (tad-arthīyam = for the sake of those = yajña/tapas/dāna) — that also (eva) is declared (abhidhīyate = is said/spoken) to be Sat — even preparatory or supporting action is Sat if it serves yajña/tapas/dāna
- sthitiḥ — yajñe tapasi dāne
- — standing-firm/steadiness in these three domains — the quality of sat is not just in the act itself but in the perseverance/faithfulness (sthiti) of the practitioner; a person who is steady in their sacred practices is 'Sat'
Steadiness in sacrifice, austerity, and gift is also called Sat; and even the action done for the sake of these — that too is declared to be Sat.
A modern analogy
Sat is not just the grand ceremonial act — it is the faithfulness of regular practice. Someone who steadily offers yajña every day, maintains their tapas discipline even when difficult, and gives consistently — that sthiti (steadiness) IS Sat. Even the small preparatory acts that make those three possible are themselves Sat.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
Devotion to sacrifice, austerity and gift is also spoken of as 'Sat'; and even action in connection with these is called 'Sat.' [1]
Steadiness in Yajna, austerity, and gift is also called "Sat": as also action in connection with these is called "Sat". [4]
Steadiness (making) sacrifices, penances, and gifts, is called 'Sat'; and (all) action, too, of which that is the object, is also called 'Sat.' [9]
Steadiness in sacrifice, penance and gifts is called 'Sat'; and action for the sake of these is also called Sat. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Whatever you do, eat, offer, give, or practise as austerity — do it all as mad-arpaṇam, an offering to Me.
OṀ Tat Sat: triple name of Brahman — by which brāhmaṇas, Vedas, and yajñas were ordained in the beginning.
Non-injury, equanimity, contentment, austerity, charity, fame and infamy — these varied states arise from Me alone.
Even food is threefold in its appeal to each person; so too yajña, tapas, and dāna. Hear their distinctions.
Tāmasic yajña: against ordinance, no food-sharing, no mantras, no dakṣiṇā, no śraddhā — declared tāmasic.
Mental tapas: serenity of mind, kindliness, silence, self-restraint, and purity of motive/bhāva.
Verse 27 of 28 · back to Chapter 17