In Bhagavad Gita 17.28, the last verse of Chapter 17, Krishna says whatever is offered, given, practised or done without faith is called asat; it is of no value here or hereafter.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं
तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत्
असदित्युच्यते पार्थ
न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ॥ १७-२८ ॥
aśraddhayā hutaṃ dattaṃ
tapastaptaṃ kṛtaṃ ca yat
asadityucyate pārtha
na ca tatpretya no iha
English transliteration ashraddhayaa hutam dattam
tapastaptam kritam cha yat
asadityuchyate paartha
na cha tatpretya no iha ॥ 17.28 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Whatever sacrifice is offered, gift given, austerity practised or act done without faith is called “asat”, O Partha. It is of no value either here or hereafter.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अश्रद्धया aśraddhayā | without faith |
| हुतम् hutam | sacrifice offered |
| दत्तम् dattam | gift given |
| तपः tapaḥ | austerity |
| तप्तम् taptam | practised |
| कृतम् kṛtam | done |
| च ca | and |
| यत् yat | whatever |
| असत् asat | asat, unreal |
| इति iti | thus |
| उच्यते ucyate | is called |
| पार्थ pārtha | O Pārtha |
| न na | not |
| च ca | and |
| तत् tat | that |
| प्रेत्य pretya | hereafter |
| न na | not |
| उ u | indeed |
| इह iha | here |
Word-wise Chanting
- aś–rad–dha–yā hu–taṃ dat–taṃ 8 syllables ash-rad-dha-yaa hu-tam dat-tam
- ta–pas–tap–taṃ kṛ–taṃ ca yat | 8 syllables ta-pas-tap-tam kri-tam cha yat
- a–sa–dit–yuc–ya–te pār–tha 8 syllables a-sa-dit-yuch-ya-te paar-tha
- na ca tat–pret–ya no i–ha || 17-28 8 syllables na cha tat-pret-ya no i-ha
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 17 Verse 28
Context
The final verse of Chapter 17 concludes the teaching on faith.
Meaning
Without śraddhā, faith, every religious act becomes asat, unreal and fruitless. It brings no benefit in this life or the next. Faith is what gives sacred action its life.
The chapter ends where it began: with faith. Faith is not an optional extra; it is what makes practice real.
In Practice
Before any sacred act today, pause to awaken genuine faith and sincerity.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga (The Threefold Nature of Faith). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.