Bhagavad Gita BG 17.28
Chapter 17, Verse 28 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् । असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ॥
ashraddha-ya hutam dattam tapas taptam krtam ca yat asad ity ucyate partha na ca tat pretya no iha
Meaning
Whatever is offered, given, or practiced in austerity without faith (ashraddha) is called 'asat' — it is of no use either in this world or the next, O Partha.
Understanding
The closing verse of Ch17 and its most important teaching: ashraddha-ya (without shraddha — without heartfelt faith/commitment) — hutam (offerings), dattam (gifts), tapah taptam (austerity practiced), krtam ca yat (and whatever action done). Asad ity ucyate (is called asat — unreal, without essence, without result). Na ca tat pretya no iha (it avails nothing in the next world, nor in this one). Without shraddha, even the best outward actions (yajna, tapas, dana) are hollow. The entire Ch17 is reversed in this one verse: not what you do, but the shraddha with which you do it, determines its reality.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अश्रद्धया | ashraddha-ya | without faith, without shraddha, faithlessly |
| हुतम् | hutam | offered (as in fire sacrifice) |
| असत् | asat | unreal, without essence, of no result |
| प्रेत्य | pretya | in the next world, after death |
| इह | iha | here, in this world |
| अश्रद्धया | aśraddhayā | without faith |
| दत्तम् | dattam | given in charity |
| तपः | tapaḥ | austerity |
| तप्तम् | taptam | performed |
| कृतम् | kṛtam ca | and done |
| यत् | yat | whatever |
| इति | iti | thus |
| उच्यते | ucyate | is called |
| पार्थ | pārtha | O Arjuna |
| न | na ca tat | and that not |
| न | na iha | nor here |