In Bhagavad Gita 9.3, Krishna says that people without faith in this dharma do not reach him and return to the path of death and worldly existence.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा
धर्मस्यास्य परन्तप
अप्राप्य मां निवर्तन्ते
मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि ॥ ९-३ ॥
aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā
dharmasyāsya parantapa
aprāpya māṃ nivartante
mṛtyusaṃsāravartmani
English transliteration ashraddadhaanaah purushaa
dharmasyaasya parantapa
apraapya maam nivartante
mrityusamsaaravartmani ॥ 9.3 ॥
Translation / Meaning
People who have no faith in this dharma, O scorcher of foes, do not reach Me and return to the path of death and worldly existence.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अश्रद्दधानाः aśraddadhānāḥ | without faith |
| पुरुषाः puruṣāḥ | people |
| धर्मस्य dharmasya | in dharma |
| अस्य asya | this |
| परन्तप parantapa | O scorcher of foes |
| अप्राप्य aprāpya | not reaching |
| माम् mām | Me |
| निवर्तन्ते nivartante | return |
| मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि mṛtyusaṃsāravartmani | to the path of death and worldly existence mṛtyu (death) + saṃsāra (worldly existence) + vartmani (path) |
Word-wise Chanting
- aś–rad–da–dhā–nāḥ pu–ru–ṣā 8 syllables ash-rad-da-dhaa-naah pu-ru-shaa
- dhar–mas–yās–ya pa–ran–ta–pa | 8 syllables dhar-mas-yaas-ya pa-ran-ta-pa
- ap–rāp–ya māṃ ni–var–tan–te 8 syllables ap-raap-ya maam ni-var-tan-te
- mṛt–yu–saṃ–sā–ra–var–tma–ni || 9-3 8 syllables mrit-yu-sam-saa-ra-var-tma-ni
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 9 Verse 3
Context
Krishna names the obstacle to receiving this knowledge.
Meaning
Even the easiest teaching requires śraddhā, faith, a willingness to trust and try. Without it, people do not approach the Divine and remain on the mṛtyu-saṃsāra-vartma, the road of repeated birth and death.
Faith in the Gita is not blind belief. It is the openness that allows a person to begin practice and discover the truth for themselves. Without that first step, nothing can be verified.
In Practice
Take one small step of practice today in a spirit of trust, even if you are not yet sure.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 9: Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga (The Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret). 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.