Bhagavad Gita 17.28

Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga · English Translation

Whatever is sacrificed, given or performed, and whatever austerity is practised without faith, it is called 'Asat', O Arjuna; it is naught here or hereafter (after death).

Sanskrit

अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् | असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ||१७-२८||

Transliteration

aśraddhayā hutaṃ dattaṃ tapastaptaṃ kṛtaṃ ca yat . asadityucyate pārtha na ca tatprepya no iha ||17-28||

What Does This Verse Mean?

In this verse, Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that any action performed without genuine faith is considered 'Asat' or non-existent in its spiritual value. This applies to acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerities done merely as rituals but lacking inner conviction. The core teaching is that the sincerity and belief behind an action determine its fruit; without faith, these actions yield no results either in this life or the next.

The Teaching Behind It

This verse anchors the concept of 'Shraddha' (faith) as the essential catalyst for Karma Yoga, distinguishing between mechanical action and spiritually potent duty. It reinforces the Vedantic view that consciousness and intention determine the reality of an outcome, asserting that actions without faith lack ontological substance in the spiritual realm.

Word by Word

अश्रद्धया without faith, हुतम् is sacrificed, दत्तम् given, तपः austerity, तप्तम् is practised, कृतम् performed, च and, यत् whatever, असत् Asat, इति thus, उच्यते is called, पार्थ O Partha, न not, च and, तत् that, प्रेत्य hereafter (after death), न not, इह here

Classical Commentary

Asat That which changes form and has no permanent existence. It does not mean nonexistence as such. Acts of sacrifice, austerity and gift that are performed without faith, under pressure, or to prevent some sort of trouble or to gratify a craving, are Asat in their nature. They yield no permanent benefit or fruit to anybody. Any sacrifice, austerity or gift done without dedicating it to the Lord will be of no avail to the doer in this earthly life here or in the life beyond hereafter. It would be as useless as showers of rain falling on rocky ground or pouring oblations of ghee (clarified butter) on cold ashes. If you have no faith you will become egoistic and obstinate. Your heart will become hard. If you perform even hundreds of sacrifices without faith, without the spirit of selfsurrender to the Lord, even if you distribute the wealth of the whole world in charity without faith in and devotion to the Lord, all these would be worthless and useless. The sages will not appreciate such sacrifices or gifts. Energy, money and time are simply wasted. Thus in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita, the science of the Eternal, the scripture of Yoga, the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, ends the seventeenth discourse entitledThe Yoga of the Division of the Threefold Faith. ,

Where This Happens

This verse appears in Chapter 17 during Krishna's discourse to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, immediately following a discussion on how faith manifests differently based on one's nature. At this point, Arjuna is still confused about which rituals and duties he should prioritize before his battle against his kinsmen. Krishna has just explained that even pious acts like charity or fasting can be useless if they are not rooted in the right kind of belief.

Living It Out Today

Consider a professional who volunteers for a company initiative only to gain favor with their boss, rather than believing in the project's value; this lack of genuine faith often leads to burnout and poor results. Similarly, when someone meditates or exercises strictly as a checklist item without connecting to the purpose, they rarely experience lasting peace or health benefits. True success comes from aligning your actions with an internal belief system that drives you forward even when external rewards are absent.

Explained for Children

Imagine you are helping someone because your mom told you to, but inside your heart, you don't really care about them at all. Even if you do a nice thing like giving a gift or cleaning up, it feels empty and doesn't make anyone truly happy. The Gita says that for any good deed—like sharing toys or being kind—to be special, you must mean it from the bottom of your heart.

Daily Reflection

I invite you to look at how much of your day is driven by actions performed without true inner faith. When we do good deeds or follow routines merely out of habit or for show, the energy remains scattered and unfulfilling. True fulfillment comes when every sacrifice, gift, or effort is infused with a heartfelt trust in its purpose.

A Practice for Today

Before offering anything today, pause to ask yourself if your action springs from genuine faith and conviction rather than habit or external pressure. Sit with the feeling of 'Asat' as a void where intention lacks a spiritual anchor, allowing you to root your next act in sincere belief.

Key Teachings

The Primacy of Faith (Shraddha)
No external action holds spiritual value if it lacks the internal foundation of sincere faith. Without this conviction, even acts that appear virtuous on the surface are deemed 'Asat' or void.
The Scope of Spiritual Action
This verse categorically includes sacrifice (huta), charity (datta), austerity (tapas), and all deeds performed without faith. It teaches that the quality of intent defines the result more than the specific type of action.
The Consequence of Void Actions
Actions lacking faith yield no benefit in this life or the next, effectively rendering them useless for spiritual growth. The verse serves as a warning to examine the source of our motivation before engaging in any religious or selfless practice.

Themes

faith (shraddha)intentionalityspiritual efficacykarma yogacharity and austerityconscious action

Related Verses

2.47 3.30 4.18 6.5 18.66

Read This Next

2.47 — To understand the foundation of performing duty without attachment to results before adding the element of faith.
3.30 — To learn how to dedicate all actions to the Divine, which is a practical expression of true Shraddha or faith.
12.15 — To see the qualities of those who possess supreme devotion and how their faithful nature impacts their spiritual standing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the specific meaning of 'Asat' in this context?

'Asat' literally translates to that which does not exist, but in this spiritual context, it refers to actions that are devoid of eternal value or truth. Krishna uses this term to describe rituals performed without faith as spiritually empty, meaning they do not generate positive karmic results.

Does the Gita say we should stop doing charity if we lack perfect faith?

Krishna calls them nothing because they fail to produce any lasting spiritual consequence or purification for the doer. Without the fuel of faith and sincerity, such actions are compared to a seed that has no soil in which to grow, rendering them ineffective.

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