Chapter 17, Verse 26
सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते | प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते ||१७-२६||
sadbhāve sādhubhāve ca sadityetatprayujyate . praśaste karmaṇi tathā sacchabdaḥ pārtha yujyate ||17-26||
Meaning
17.26 The word ï1Satï1 is used in the sense of reality and of goodness; and so also, O Arjuna, the word ï1Satï1 is used in the sense of an auspicious act.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Krishna turns to the third word, Sat, unfolding its rich layers of meaning. Sat is used in two senses: sad-bhave, denoting reality and existence — that which truly is — and sadhu-bhave, denoting goodness and virtue. Beyond this, the word Sat is also applied to any prashaste karmani, a praiseworthy and auspicious action.
This verse beautifully fuses metaphysics with ethics. The same word that names ultimate Reality also names moral goodness, quietly affirming that truth and goodness are not separate. What is real is good, and what is good participates in the real. To call a worthy deed 'Sat' is to recognise that it partakes of the very nature of Brahman. Goodness, in this vision, is not arbitrary convention but is rooted in the structure of existence itself — an echo of the Absolute reverberating in righteous action.
💡 Key Takeaway
Truth and goodness share one source — every genuinely worthy and auspicious act reflects the reality of the Divine.
Related Verses
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् | स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते ||१७-१५||
anudvegakaraṃ vākyaṃ satyaṃ priyahitaṃ ca yat . svādhyāyābhyasanaṃ caiva vāṅmayaṃ tapa ucyate ||17-15||
17.15 Speech which causes no excitement, truthful, pleasant and beneficial, the practice of the study of the Vedas, are called austerity of speech.
ॐतत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः | ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा ||१७-२३||
OMtatsaditi nirdeśo brahmaṇastrividhaḥ smṛtaḥ . brāhmaṇāstena vedāśca yajñāśca vihitāḥ purā ||17-23||
17.23 "Om Tat Sat": This has been declared to be the triple designation of Brahman. By that were created formerly, the Brahmanas, the Vedas and the sacrifices.
यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते | कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते ||१७-२७||
yajñe tapasi dāne ca sthitiḥ saditi cocyate . karma caiva tadarthīyaṃ sadityevābhidhīyate ||17-27||
17.27 Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity and gift, is also called 'Sat' and also action in connection with these (or for the sake of the Supreme) is called 'Sat'.