1 · Learn3 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Pick any verse to see what it means and how to use it in your life.

700 verses37 detailed

Or browse by chapter

Chapter

Chapter 17 · The Divisions of Faith · 28 verses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Deep profile← → keys move between verses

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.

Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›

Bhakti & surrenderChapter 17 · The Divisions of Faith

17.27 18.1

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 17.28

Om Tat Sat, spiritual faith and proper intention

Īśvara · God

अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्‍तं कृतं च यत् ।

असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ॥ २८ ॥

aśraddhayā hutaṁ dattaṁ

tapas taptaṁ kṛtaṁ ca yat

asad ity ucyate pārtha

na ca tat pretya no iha

Translation

Anything done as sacrifice, charity or penance without faith in the Supreme, O son of Pṛthā, is impermanent. It is called asat and is useless both in this life and the next.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Act with Faith in Kṛṣṇa

1
Sacrifice, charity, or penance without faith in the Supreme is called asat: impermanent and useless in this life and the next.
2
Prabhupāda explains that everything should be done for Kṛṣṇa. Faith in Him matures into love of God, life's ultimate goal.
3
Begin practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness under the guidance of a genuine spiritual master.

Key points from the purport

Religious activity not done in proper consciousness is practically useless

Anything without faith in the Supreme is impermanent and is called ‘asat’; and is useless in this life and in the next

This verse declares that sacrifice, charity and penance without faith in the Supreme is abominable

Because it is useless, being temporary

Without such faith and proper guidance, there can never be any fruit

No success is obtained without following the principle

Why this principle of ‘Faith in Supreme’ is emphasized

Ultimate goal of all Vedic instructions is to understand Krishna

Advice of all Vedas – In all Vedic scriptures ‘Faith in Supreme’ is advised

Best course of work recommended to make everything successful

Work from the very beginning in Krishna consciousness under the guidance of the bona-fide spiritual master

Direct Krishna consciousness is better than gradual elevation

In conditional state – One is attracted to different worship based on three modes as per

Connected verses · 1

Texts 17.27 & 17.28

After hearing which activities are sat, one naturally wishes to know which activities are asat. Krishna responds to this query in the final verse of this chapter.

The Conclusion: Om Tat Sat

All activities are contaminated by the modes

These defects can be offset by acting, even if within the modes of nature, in Krishna’s service:

“Om tat sat”

Conclusion is that when sacrifice, penance and austerity are performed without faith in the Supreme – without a transcendental goal – they are useless in this life and next

Chapter 17, section VI: The Conclusion: Om Tat Sat