Chapter 17, Verse 26
Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga — Sanskrit shloka, transliteration, word meanings, English translation, and commentary.
Original Sanskrit verse
Transliteration
Word meanings
sat-bhāve—with the intention of eternal existence and goodness; sādhu-bhāve—with auspicious intention; cha—also; sat—the syllable Sat; iti—thus; etat—this; prayujyate—is used; praśhaste—auspicious; karmaṇi—action; tathā—also; sat-śhabdaḥ—the word “Sat”; pārtha—Arjun, the son of Pritha; yujyate—is used;
English translation
The word "Sat" is used to refer to reality and goodness; likewise, O Arjuna, the word "Sat" is used to refer to an auspicious act.
— Swami Sivananda
Listen to Shloka 17.26
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.
Commentary by Swami Sivananda
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