Verse 17.27

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 17.27:

यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सद् इति चोच्यते ।
कर्म चैव तद्-अर्थीयं सद् इत्य् एवाभिधीयते ॥ २७ ॥

yajñe tapasi dāne ca sthitiḥ sad iti cocyate |
karma caiva tad-arthīyaṃ sad ity evābhidhīyate || 27 ||

yajñe–in sacrifice; tapasi–in austerity; dāne–in charity; ca–and; sthitiḥ–sacrifices and other religious acts; sat–spiritual, virtuous, or eternal; iti–as; ca ucyate–is also spoken of; karma–actions (like cleaning the temple of the Lord); ca–and; eva–certainly; tat-arthīyam–appropriate for the service of brahma (the Supreme Lord); sat–sat; iti–as; eva abhidhīyate–certainly described.

Steadiness in the performance of sacrifice, austerity and charity is also known as sat. And activities such as cleansing the temple for the pleasure of brahma (Śrī Bhagavān) are also called sat.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

Sthitiḥ means ‘being steadfast in the perfor-mance of sacrifice, etc’. Tad-arthīyaṃ karma means ‘serving brahma (Śrī Bhagavān) by performing activities such as cleaning the temple’.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says, “The import of the word sat can also be applied to sacrifice, austerities and charity, if they are performed for the satisfaction of brahma;if not, they are all asat (useless). All mundane activities are contrary to the jīva’s svarūpa, or intrinsic, spiritual nature. When one resolves to serve brahma, one engages in those activities that arouse transcendental devotion. They then become useful in purifying the living entity’s existence, that is, in bestowing perfection, or service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, upon him.”