Verse 17.27
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते | कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते ||२७||
Transliteration (IAST)
yajñe tapasi dāne ca sthitiḥ sad iti cocyate | karma caiva tad-arthīyaṁ sad ity evābhidhīyate ||27||
Word-by-Word Meanings
Translation
Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and charity is also called 'Sat'; and action performed for the sake of That (the Supreme) is verily called 'Sat'.
Commentary
Shankaracharya explains that Sat applies both to the steadfast practice of spiritual disciplines and to any action dedicated to the Supreme. Ramanuja emphasizes tad-arthīyam - action performed for the sake of Brahman transforms all work into worship. Madhva notes that this verse establishes the principle that the orientation of action (toward the Divine) determines its spiritual value, not merely its external form.