Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17 Verse 26 — Meaning & Life Application
Sanskrit Shloka (Original)
सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते | प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते ||१७-२६||
Transliteration
sadbhāve sādhubhāve ca sadityetatprayujyate . praśaste karmaṇi tathā sacchabdaḥ pārtha yujyate ||17-26||
Word-by-Word Meaning
📖 Translation
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.
।।17.26।। हे पार्थ ! सत्य भाव व साधुभाव में 'सत्' शब्द का प्रयोग किया जाता है, और प्रशस्त (श्रेष्ठ, शुभ) कर्म में 'सत्' शब्द प्रयुक्त होता है।।
How to Apply This Verse in Modern Life
💼 At Work & Career
Approach all tasks, from mundane to strategic, with integrity, a commitment to excellence, and a sense of higher purpose. Even when an outcome feels imperfect, consciously invoking 'Sat' (through honest effort, good intention, and dedication to the greater good) elevates the quality and impact of your work, making it more meaningful and effective.
🧘 For Stress & Anxiety
When facing setbacks, self-doubt, or the impermanence of outcomes, ground yourself in the 'Sat' – the unchanging reality of your core values, good intentions, and the inherent goodness you strive for. This perspective helps purify perceived failures or imperfections, reducing anxiety and fostering mental stability by aligning with an unshakeable truth.
❤️ In Relationships
Cultivate authenticity, sincerity, and genuine goodwill in all interactions. Seek to recognize and uphold the 'Sat' (inherent goodness and reality) within others and in the relationship itself. Even amidst misunderstandings or imperfections, consciously returning to a foundation of genuine positive intent can purify and strengthen connections, fostering deeper, more meaningful bonds.
When to Chant/Recall This Verse
Solves These Life Problems
Key Message in One Line
“Align your intentions and actions with the inherent reality and goodness of 'Sat,' thereby purifying and perfecting them, and infusing all aspects of life with profound meaning and purpose.”
🕉️ Council of Sages
Compare interpretations from revered Acharyas and scholars
🌍 English Interpretations
Swami Sivananda
17.26 सद्भावे in the sense of reality? साधुभावे in the sense of goodness? च and? सत् Sat? इति thus? एतत् this? प्रयुज्यते is used? प्रशस्ते auspicious? कर्मणि (in the sense of) an act? तथा so also? सत् Sat? शब्दः word? पार्थ O Partha? युज्यते is used.Commentary Satbhava That which is unchanging amidst the changing? that which is permanent amidst the impermanent? that which exists in the past? present and future is Sat the reality behind the everchanging names and forms is Sat the substratum in which the everchanging forms inhere is Sat. Meritorious action is Sat.Sadhubhava An attribute of harmony with nature? so that the worlds cycle moves smoothly.The word Sat is powerful enough to make a defective action perfect and complete. When a good action is likely to be rendered Asat or bad owing to a single defect? the use of the word Sat makes it free from defects and brings it to a successful termination. The word Sat removes the evil ality of the action as it has the power of purifying and rendering the act perfect.Sat is Existence Absolute. Sat is Para Brahman. Sat is the inexpressible symbol of that mysterious indescribable? illimitable? indivisible? selfluminous? immortal Brahman.The word Sat is used when you wish to express the reality of an object which is unreal or which is relatively real? as for instance? the birth of a son who is unreal or relatively real in telling that a man is one of good conduct when his conduct is not good or is only relatively good? and in expressing that an act is auspicious? when it is not auspicious or only relatively auspicious.Brahman alone is real. It alone really exists. But we say when a son is born to Mr. Govindan that Mr. Govindans son has come into existence. From the viewpoint of Brahman or Existence Absolute? Mr. Govindans son never exists.The word Sat which is only applied to Brahman is used also for Mr. Govindans son who is unreal or relatively real. Brahman alone is absolutely good and absolutely auspicious. But the,word Sat that can properly be applied to Brahman alone is applied to an act which is not auspicious or which is only relatively auspicious. The use of Sat renders the imperfectly performed actions perfect.
Shri Purohit Swami
17.26 Sat' means Reality or the highest Good, and also, O Arjuna, it is used to mean an action of exceptional merit.
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
17.26. In the sense of 'right one' (or 'manifesting as being') and in the sense of 'proper one' (or 'manifesting perfectly'), this word SAT is employed. Likewise the word SAT is used with regard to the praiseworthy act; O son of Prtha !
Swami Adidevananda
17.26 This term Sat is used in the sense of existence and goodness. And so also, O Arjuna, the word Sat is applied to an auspicious action.
Swami Gambirananda
17.26 This word sat is used with regard to (something) coming into being and with regard to (someone) becoming good. So also, O son of Prtha, the word sat is used with regard to an auspicious rite.
🇮🇳 Hindi Interpretations
Swami Chinmayananda
।।17.26।। सत्यता और साधुता तथा कर्म की प्रशस्तता को सत् शब्द के द्वारा लक्षित किया जाता है। हम सब आपेक्षिक सत्यत्व वाले जगत् में रहते हैं। हमारे लिए यह स्वाभाविक है कि अपने शरीर? मन और बुद्धि के द्वारा अनुभूयमान इस जगत् को ही हम पारमार्थिक सत्य समझ लें। अत सत् शब्द के द्वारा हमें यह स्मरण कराया जाता है कि पारमार्थिक सत्य इस आपेक्षिक सत्य रूप जगत् का भी अधिष्ठान है।
Swami Ramsukhdas
।।17.26।। व्याख्या -- सद्भावे -- परमत्मा हैं इस प्रकार परमात्माकी सत्ता(होनेपन) का नाम सद्भाव है। उस परमात्माके सगुणनिर्गुण? साकारनिराकार आदि जितने रूप हैं और सगुणसाकारमें भी उसके विष्णु? राम? कृष्ण? शिव? शक्ति? गणेश? सूर्य आदि जितने अवतार हैं? वे सबकेसब सद्भाव के अन्तर्गत हैं। इस प्रकार जिसका किसी देश? काल? वस्तु आदिमें कभी अभाव नहीं होता? ऐसे परमात्माके जो अनेक रूप हैं? अनेक नाम हैं? अनेक तरहकी लीलाएँ हैं? वे सबकेसब सद्भाव के अन्तर्गत हैं।साधुभावे -- परमात्मप्राप्तिके लिये अलगअलग सम्प्रदायोंमें अलगअलग जितने साधन बताये गये हैं? उनमें हृदयके जो दया? क्षमा आदि श्रेष्ठ? उत्तम भाव हैं? वे सबकेसब साधुभाव के अन्तर्गत हैं।सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते -- सत्तामें और श्रेष्ठतामें सत् शब्दका प्रयोग किया जाता है अर्थात् जो सदा है? जिसमें,कभी किञ्चिन्मात्र भी कमी और अभाव नहीं होता -- ऐसे परमात्माके लिये और उस परमात्माकी प्राप्तिके लिये दैवीसम्पत्तिके जो सत्य? क्षमा? उदारता? त्याग आदि श्रेष्ठ गुण हैं? उनके लिये सत् शब्दका प्रयोग किया जाता है जैसे -- सत्तत्त्व? सद्गुण? सद्भाव आदि।प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते -- परमात्मप्राप्तिके लिये अलगअलग सम्प्रदायोंमें अलगअलग जितने साधन बताये गये हैं? उनमें क्रियारूपसे जितने श्रेष्ठ आचरण हैं? वे सबकेसब प्रशस्ते कर्मणि के अन्तर्गत हैं। इसी प्रकार शास्त्रविधिके अनुसार यज्ञोपवीत? विवाह आदि संस्कार अन्नदान? भूमिदान? गोदान आदि दान और कुआँबावड़ी खुदवाना? धर्मशाला बनवाना? मन्दिर बनवाना? बगीचा लगवाना आदि श्रेष्ठ कर्म भी प्रशस्ते कर्मणि के अन्तर्गत आते हैं। इन सब श्रेष्ठ आचरणोंमें? श्रेष्ठ कर्मोंमें सत् शब्दका प्रयोग किया जाता है जैसे -- सदाचार? सत्कर्म? सत्सेवा? सद्व्यवहार आदि।
Swami Tejomayananda
।।17.26।। हे पार्थ ! सत्य भाव व साधुभाव में 'सत्' शब्द का प्रयोग किया जाता है, और प्रशस्त (श्रेष्ठ, शुभ) कर्म में 'सत्' शब्द प्रयुक्त होता है।।
📜 Sanskrit Commentaries
Sri Madhavacharya
।।17.26।।सद्भावशब्देन प्रजननं सूचितम्। मित्युक्त्वाऽनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञदानतपआदिकृतामतिप्रीतेर्नामसाम्याद्ब्रह्मैव निष्पादितं भवतीत्याशयः।
Sri Anandgiri
।।17.26।।वृत्तमनूद्यानन्तरश्लोकतात्पर्यमाह -- तच्छब्दयोरिति।
Sri Vallabhacharya
।।17.26।।सदित्यस्यान्वयप्रकारं लोके शब्दव्युत्पत्तिसिद्ध्या दर्शयति -- सद्भाव इति। अस्तीति सत् तस्मिन्भावे। अत्र भावो नाम वस्तु अन्यथा तत्रान्वस्थितिः स्यात् तेनसद्भावः इत्यत्र सत्पदेनाविर्भूतं भावो वस्त्वित्यभिधीयते। साधुभावे साधुत्वे च सदिति प्रयुज्यते। प्रशस्ते कर्मणि च सतो व्यापकस्य ब्रह्मणः,सर्वत्वश्रवणादेव तथा तथा प्रयोगः सर्वत्रोपपद्यते।
Sridhara Swami
।।17.26।।सच्छब्दस्य प्राशस्त्यमाह -- सद्भाव इति द्वाभ्याम्। सद्भावे अस्तित्वे देवदत्तस्य पुत्रादिकमस्तीत्यस्मिन्नर्थे? साधुभावे च साधुत्वे देवदत्तस्य पुत्रादिश्रेष्ठमित्यस्मिन्नर्थे सदित्येतत्पदं प्रयुज्यते। प्रशस्ते माङ्गलिके विवाहादिकर्मणि च सदिदं कर्मेति सच्छब्दो युज्यते प्रयुज्यते संगच्छत इति वा।