Bhagwad Gita (English) | Chapter 17 | Verse 28

Chapter 17, Verse 28

The Divisions of Faith

But sacrifices, austerities and charities performed without faith in the Supreme are nonpermanent, O son of Prtha, regardless of whatever rites are performed. They are called asat and are useless both in this life and the next.

Verse

अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत्।असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह।।17.28।।

aśhraddhayā hutaṁ dattaṁ tapas taptaṁ kṛitaṁ cha yat
asad ity uchyate pārtha na cha tat pretya no iha

Meaning of each word

aśhraddhayā — without faith;
hutam — sacrifice;
dattam — charity;
tapaḥ — penance;
taptam — practiced;
kṛitam — done;
cha — and;
yat — which;
asat — perishable;
iti — thus;
uchyate — are termed as;
pārtha — Arjun, the son of Pritha;
na — not;
cha — and;
tat — that;
pretya — in the next world;
na u — not;
iha — in this world

Interpretation

This verse tells us that when we do things like sacrifices (which are acts of worship), charity (helping others), or penances (self-discipline and practices), if we do them without believing in a higher power or purpose—specifically, without faith in God (here referred to as the Supreme)—then those actions do not really matter. They are referred to as 'asat', meaning they are temporary and lack value.

For example, think about how you might help someone without really caring. If you donate money or time but do so just to show off, or because you feel forced, the true value and spirit of that act are lost. This is what the verse is trying to explain: merely going through the motions won’t lead to any real benefit or good outcomes, either in this life or in whatever comes afterward.

The emphasis here is on having faith and a deeper purpose behind our actions. It says that everything we do should be for the Supreme—a way to connect with God or a higher spiritual truth. When we focus on this faith and aim, our actions become meaningful and valuable.

The verse also highlights the importance of proper guidance in understanding how to connect with this higher power. Following sacred teachings and engaging with qualified spiritual teachers can lead us to a genuine understanding of God, which is essential for achieving true success in life.

So, the bottom line is that whatever we do should be grounded in faith and directed towards a higher purpose. Without this, our efforts will lack substance and will not contribute to our growth spiritually. This approach of living with faith in God from the beginning of our journey is the way to ensure that our actions lead to real success and fulfillment.

Other Verses of Chapter 17

Verse 1
Arjuna said, O Krsna, what is the situation of one who does not follow the principles of scripture but worships according to his own imagination? Is he in goodness, in passion or in ignorance?

Verse 2
The Supreme Lord said, according to the modes of nature acquired by the embodied soul, one's faith can be of three kinds-goodness, passion or ignorance. Now hear about these.

Verse 3
According to one's existence under the various modes of nature, one evolves a particular kind of faith. The living being is said to be of a particular faith according to the modes he has acquired.

Verse 4
Men in the mode of goodness worship the demigods; those in the mode of passion worship the demons; and those in the mode of ignorance worship ghosts and spirits.

Verse 5
Those men who practice terrific austerities not prescribed by the scriptures, given to hypocrisy and egoism, driven by the force of lust and attachment.

Verse 6
Know thou these to be of demonical resolves, senselessly torturing all the elements in the body and Me who dwell in the body.

Verse 7
Even food of which all partake is of three kinds, according to the three modes of material nature. The same is true of sacrifices, austerities and charity. Listen, and I shall tell you of the distinctions of these.

Verse 8
The foods that increase life, purity, strength, health, joy, and cheerfulness (good appetite), which are savory, oily, substantial, and agreeable, are dear to the Sattvic (pure) people.

Verse 9
The foods that are bitter, sour, salty, overly hot, pungent, dry, and burning are liked by the Rajasic and are productive of pain, grief, and disease.

Verse 10
That which is stale, tasteless, putrid, rotten, rejected, and impure is the food liked by the Tamasic.

Verse 11
Of sacrifices, that sacrifice performed according to duty and to scriptural rules, and with no expectation of reward, is of the nature of goodness.

Verse 12
But that sacrifice performed for some material end or benefit or performed ostentatiously, out of pride, is of the nature of passion, O chief of the Bharatas.

Verse 13
And that sacrifice performed in defiance of scriptural injunctions, in which no spiritual food is distributed, no hymns are chanted and no remunerations are made to the priests, and which is faithless—that sacrifice is of the nature of ignorance.

Verse 14
The austerity of the body consists in this: worship of the Supreme Lord, the brahmanas, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother. Cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence are also austerities of the body.

Verse 15
Austerity of speech consists in speaking truthfully and beneficially and in avoiding speech that offends. One should also recite the Vedas regularly.

Verse 16
And serenity, simplicity, gravity, self-control and purity of thought are the austerities of the mind.

Verse 17
This threefold austerity, practiced by men whose aim is not to benefit themselves materially but to please the Supreme, is of the nature of goodness.

Verse 18
Those ostentatious penances and austerities which are performed in order to gain respect, honor and reverence are said to be in the mode of passion. They are neither stable nor permanent.

Verse 19
And those penances and austerities which are performed foolishly by means of obstinate self-torture, or to destroy or injure others, are said to be in the mode of ignorance.

Verse 20
That gift which is given out of duty, at the proper time and place, to a worthy person, and without expectation of return, is considered to be charity in the mode of goodness.

Verse 21
But charity performed with the expectation of some return, or with a desire for fruitive results, or in a grudging mood, is said to be charity in the mode of passion.

Verse 22
And charity performed at an improper place and time and given to unworthy persons without respect and with contempt is charity in the mode of ignorance.

Verse 23
From the beginning of creation, the three syllables-om tat sat-have been used to indicate the Supreme Absolute Truth [Brahman]. They were uttered by brahmanas while chanting Vedic hymns and during sacrifices, for the satisfaction of the Supreme.

Verse 24
Thus the transcendentalists undertake sacrifices, charities, and penances, beginning always with om, to attain the Supreme.

Verse 25
One should perform sacrifice, penance and charity with the word tat. The purpose of such transcendental activities is to get free from the material entanglement.

Verse 26
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.

Verse 27
Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and gift is also called 'Sat', and action in connection with these, or for the sake of the Supreme, is also called 'Sat'.

Download as Image