In Bhagavad Gita 17.27, Krishna says steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity and charity is also called Sat, and any action for that purpose is also called Sat.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यज्ञे तपसि दाने च
स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते
कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं
सदित्येवाभिधीयते ॥ १७-२७ ॥
yajñe tapasi dāne ca
sthitiḥ saditi cocyate
karma caiva tadarthīyaṃ
sadityevābhidhīyate
English transliteration yajne tapasi daane cha
sthitih saditi chochyate
karma chaiva tadartheeyam
sadityevaabhidheeyate ॥ 17.27 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity and charity is also called “Sat”; and any action done for such purposes is likewise called “Sat”.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यज्ञे yajñe | in sacrifice |
| तपसि tapasi | in austerity |
| दाने dāne | in charity |
| च ca | and |
| स्थितिः sthitiḥ | steadfastness |
| सत् sat | Sat |
| इति iti | thus |
| च ca | and |
| उच्यते ucyate | is called |
| कर्म karma | action |
| च ca | and |
| एव eva | also |
| तदर्थीयम् tadarthīyam | for such purposes tat (that) + arthīyam (purpose) |
| सत् sat | Sat |
| इति iti | thus |
| एव eva | likewise |
| अभिधीयते abhidhīyate | is called |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–jñe ta–pa–si dā–ne ca 8 syllables ya-jne ta-pa-si daa-ne cha
- sthi–tiḥ sa–di–ti coc–ya–te | 8 syllables sthi-tih sa-di-ti choch-ya-te
- kar–ma cai–va ta–dar–thī–yaṃ 8 syllables kar-ma chai-va ta-dar-thee-yam
- sa–dit–ye–vā–bhi–dhī–ya–te || 17-27 8 syllables sa-dit-ye-vaa-bhi-dhee-ya-te
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 17 Verse 27
Context
Krishna continues explaining Sat (17.23–17.28).
Meaning
Sthiti, steady commitment, to yajña, tapas and dāna is itself Sat. Any action undertaken for these sacred purposes is also Sat. Faithfulness to the good is a form of the Real.
Consistency in goodness makes our lives participate in reality itself.
In Practice
Stay steady in one good practice today, even if you do not feel like it.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Threefold Nature of Faith). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.