यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते ।
कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते ॥
कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
यज्ञ, तप और दानरूप क्रियामें जो स्थिति निष्ठा है, वह भी सत् ऐसे कही जाती है और उस परमात्माके निमित्त किया जानेवाला कर्म भी सत् ऐसा ही कहा जाता है ॥
English
Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and giving is called sat. Action done for that purpose is also called sat.
What this verse means
Steady dedication in sacrifice, disciplined effort, and giving is called sat. Any action done for that sacred purpose is also called sat.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield, Arjuna is still frozen while Krishna explains the quality of true offering. In this verse, Krishna says that steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and giving is itself sacred, and so is any action done for that higher purpose.
Why this verse still matters
You keep showing up for a hard promise no one can verify: caring for a parent, finishing a repair, telling the truth. The steadiness itself gives the act its worth.
The takeaway
Your effort becomes meaningful when it is steady and offered with sincerity.
Word-by-word translation
यज्ञे (in sacrifice) / तपसि (in austerity) / दाने (in giving) / च (and) / स्थितिः (steadfastness) / सत् (sat) / इति (thus) / च (and) / उच्यते (is called) । कर्म (action) / च (and) / एव (indeed) / तत्-अर्थीयं (for that purpose) / सत् (sat) / इति (thus) / एव (indeed) / अभिधीयते (is called)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga — The Three Kinds of Faith, which contains 28 verses.
Explore related themes: shraddha (34 verses), yajna (32 verses), tapas (22 verses)