Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, Verse 27

English Translation

And the steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity and charity is spoken of as sat. And even the action meant for these is, verily, called as sat (good).

Detailed Commentary

**17.27** **Commentary** The steadfastness (nishtha) in praiseworthy actions like Yajna, Tapas, and Dana is called 'Sat'. For instance, the faith (shraddha) and earnestness (tatparata) one has in a sattvic Yajna, a sattvic Tapas, and a sattvic Dana, is called 'Sannishtha'. The particle 'cha' (and) implies that just as people have shraddha in Yajna, Tapas, and Dana, similarly, one who holds shraddha in Varnashrama Dharma (duties according to social order and stage of life), observance of truth (satya vrata palan), hospitality (atithi satkar), service (seva), obedience (agya palan), the dharma of a chaste wife (pativrata dharma), and in holy places (Tirthas) like Ganga, Yamuna, and Prayagraj, that too is Sannishtha. **Karma Chaiva Tadarthiyam Sadityevabhidhiyate** — Besides praiseworthy actions, karma has two forms: worldly (laukika) and spiritual (paramarthika). Worldly actions include Yajna (in its ritualistic, social sense), teaching (adhyapan), trade (vyapar), farming (kheti), etc., and personal activities like eating and drinking, sitting and standing, walking and moving, sleeping and waking. Spiritual actions include Japa (chanting), Dhyana (meditation), Patha (recitation), Puja (worship), Katha (spiritual discourse), Kirtan (devotional singing), Shravan (listening to scriptures), Manan (contemplation), and Chintan (reflection). If both these types of actions are performed with a selfless attitude (nishkama bhava) and for the sake of the Lord (Bhagavan), they become 'tadarthiyam karma' (actions dedicated to Him). Because they are for the Lord, their fruit becomes 'Sat' (truth, existence, good), meaning they become liberative. Just as a piece of clay thrown into fire becomes fire-like, so too actions performed for the Supreme Being (Paramatma) become 'Sat'. Only actions performed in relation to the Supreme Being are truly special or significant. 'Tadarthiyam' means that for a seeker (sadhaka) who desires only the Supreme Being and seeks liberation (mukti), their spiritual practice (paramarthika sadhana) becomes 'Sat'. In this regard, the Lord says that one who performs auspicious actions never comes to grief (Bhagavad Gita 6.40). One who is an inquirer of Yoga transcends the desire-driven actions (kamana karmas) described in the Vedas (Bhagavad Gita 6.44). A spiritual practice or action performed for the Supreme Being is not destroyed; rather, it becomes 'Sat'. **Connection** — In the previous verse, it was stated that actions performed with the objective of the Supreme Being become 'Sat'. But what is the designation of actions that are devoid of the objective of the Supreme Being? This will be explained in the subsequent verse.