Verse 17.28
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् | असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ||२८||
Transliteration (IAST)
aśraddhayā hutaṁ dattaṁ tapas taptaṁ kṛtaṁ ca yat | asad ity ucyate pārtha na ca tat pretya no iha ||28||
Word-by-Word Meanings
Translation
Whatever is offered in sacrifice, given in charity, or performed as austerity without faith - it is called 'Asat' (unreal), O Partha. It is of no avail here or hereafter.
Commentary
The chapter concludes by affirming that faith (śraddhā) is the indispensable foundation of all spiritual practice. Shankaracharya explains that without faith, even outwardly correct actions are spiritually void - they bear no fruit in this world or the next. Ramanuja emphasizes that this verse circles back to the chapter's opening question: faith is what gives meaning and efficacy to all religious acts. Madhva notes the stark contrast between Sat and Asat - faith transforms action into reality, while faithlessness renders it null.