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Chapter 9 · The Most Confidential Knowledge · 34 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Soul & knowledgeChapter 9 · The Most Confidential Knowledge
9.29.4

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 9.3

Confidential spiritual knowledge and faith

Īśvara · God

अश्रद्दधाना: पुरुषा धर्मस्यास्य परन्तप ।

अप्राप्य मां निवर्तन्ते मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि ॥ ३ ॥

aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā

dharmasyāsya paran-tapa

aprāpya māṁ nivartante

mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani

Translation

Those who are not faithful in this devotional service cannot attain Me, O conqueror of enemies. Therefore they return to the path of birth and death in this material world.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

3 study points

Faith in Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Those without faith in devotional service cannot reach Kṛṣṇa and return to birth and death in this material world.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that real faith means being fully convinced that serving Kṛṣṇa alone brings all perfection.

  3. 3

    Spend time with devotees to develop faith and become steady in serving Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport

Faithless cannot attain Krishna — ‘Faith’ is a most important factor for progress in Krishna Consciousness (purport)

Faithless people return to the path of birth and death in this material world

a

Development of that faith is the process of Krishna consciousness

b

Definition of faith — Simply by serving Krishna one can achieve all perfection (Ref. Caitanya Charitamrta)

Analogy: Watering the root of the tree satisfies the whole tree; Feeding the stomach satisfies all the body parts. (Ref. SB 4.31.14)

c

“How faith is created” — By association of devotees

d

Three types of Krishna conscious men on the basis of ‘faith’

3rd Level (lowest)

Have no good faith/no knowledge of scriptures – easily falldown

May officially be engaged in devotional service but cannot achieve highest perfectional stage

e.g. People coming to Krishna Consciousness with hidden motives

2nd Level – firm faith

But not very advanced in devotional scriptures

Simply trying to follow by association and simplicity

1 Level (highest) st

Firm faith and well versed in devotional scriptures

No chance of falldown

e

Faithless find this path very difficult

Even after hearing about Krishna and excellence of devotional service, they think it to be simply eulogy, even if supposedly engaged in devotional service

Fate – Very little hope of perfection

f

Destiny of faithless — Return to the path of birth and death

g

Expected conclusion after reading Bhagavad-gita

Give up all other engagements and adopt the service of the Lord with full faith

Connected verses · 1

Texts 9.2 & 9.3

QUESTION — If Bhakti is so joyful, who will still continue in material existence (Material existence is referred to as the word ‘Samsaara’ in Text 9.3). ANSWER: Only the faithless disqualify and continue in this ‘Samsaara’ (9.3)

Further reading

Hearing: Qualifications And Disqualifications

Non-envious and faithful will attain Krishna by hearing this most confidential knowledge about Him

Faithlessness forces one to return to the path of birth and death in this material world

Chapter 9, section I: Hearing: Qualifications And Disqualifications
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. aśraddadhānāḥthose who are faithless
  2. puruṣāḥsuch persons
  3. dharmasyatoward the process of religion
  4. asyathis
  5. param-tapaO killer of the enemies
  6. aprāpyawithout obtaining
  7. māmMe
  8. nivartantecome back
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: ātmā, jñāna.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 9.3 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to soul & knowledge?

Practice

Spend five minutes reflecting on what in you does not change.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 9.1Confidential spiritual knowledge and faithBG 9.2Confidential spiritual knowledge and faithBG 2.13The self endures bodily changeBG 4.34The humility of real inquiry
Live this todayEverything Rests on His EnergyA practice from BG 9.4, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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