In this regard Lord Kåñëa explains to Arjuna in Bhagavad-Gétä 17.26,27:

sad-bhäve sädhu bhäve ca

sad ityetat prayujyate

praçaste karmaëi tathä

sac chabdaù pärtha yujyate

“The Absolute Truth is the objective of devotional sacrifice, and it is indicated by the word sat. The performer of such a sacrifice is also called sat.”

'Sadbhäva' means those who have taken birth in the mode of goodness, such as the devotees of Lord Govinda, the demigods, and the brähmaëas who are purified by the chanting of Gäyatré mantra. It also means a pure appearance (sat ävirbhäva), referring to the appearance of the Lord’s forms in this world, like Viräö and Näräyaëa. 'Sat bhäva' also refers to the person who exists in the eternal place (sat) called Vaikuëöha-Dhäma, the Supreme abode. That person is Näräyaëa or Väsudeva.

'Sat bhäva' also means He who appears with His own pure energy. Kåñëa appears according to His own sweet will with His name, quality, activity and pastimes, and so many opulences and perfections like aëimä etc. in His abode, Çré Våndävana.

'Sat bhäva' also refers to the appearance of great devotees (satam), who are born through the guru who gives instructions and initiation, not by a birth from parents under the influence of pious activities accumulated in a previous life.

'Sädhu bhäve' means the excellent nature of saintly persons, or the pure nature of their minds, which is produced by hearing the quality, activity, pastimes and the names of the Lord; by studying the scriptures which describe devotional service, such as Çruti, Småti, Vedas, Puräëas, secondary Puräëas, Ägama, philosophy and Paìcarätra etc. and by the association of devotees and other devotional processes.

The word 'sad' is thus used to indicate those demigods and brähmaëas who are completely surrendered to the Lord, and things which are beyond the modes of passion and ignorance, which are eternal and situated in pure goodness.

Similarly, 'praçaste karmaëi' means the activities in pure goodness performed by a Kåñëa conscious person--all activities in the service of one's spiritual master, the Vaiñëavas, brähmaëas and the devotees of Lord Kåñëa, such as taking the Deity of Lord Govinda on procession, näma-kértana and saìkértana. ‘O Arjuna, son of Påtha, the word 'sat' is used in all these and other activities which belong to Kåñëa and His devotee.’ In the next verse, 17.27 He says:

yajïe tapasi däne ca

sthitiù sad iti cocyate

karma caiva tad arthéyaà

sad ity eväbhidhéyate

“All works of sacrifice, penance and charity which are true to the Absolute nature, and are performed to please the Supreme Person, O son of Påtha, are called sat.”

'Yajïa' refers to Çré Viñëu -yajïa or all the devotional activities like çravaëam, kértanam from early morning--to the last offering of flowers when the Lord is put to rest at night . 'Tapa' means having given up fruitive daily and periodic rituals and performing only actions devoted to the Lord. 'Däna' means serving the great devotees of Lord Kåñëa by the body, mind and speech, with devotion and faith, and, as indicated by the word 'ca', service to satisfy brähmaëas and all living entities by feeding them.

'Yajïa' can also mean Viñëu and service to Him according to the scriptures. These things must be done, and nothing else. The word 'sat' is used always for these sacrifices and such situations, but other kinds of yajïa and activities are described here as 'asat', or illicit. Therefore, the word 'sat' cannot be used there.

'Tad arthéyaà' means bodily sufferings accepted to execute activities such as sacrifice, charity and penance; collecting donations of money from businessmen; making flower gardens, sitting or resting places; and planting many kinds of plants for the Lord and His devotees. Learned scholars categorize these kinds of activities as 'sat'.

Therefore, the householder devotees of Kåñëa, being born in 'sadbhäva' or in pure goodness, through instructions on the name and mantra of the Lord, should worship only the Lord in all performances, not demigods and forefathers. Simply by worshipping Lord Kåñëa, Govinda, all the demigods and forefathers are worshipped.

Worship of Govinda is worship of all