Verse 17.28 : Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga "Three Divisions of Faith"
Verse 28 of 28
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The Translation
“Whatever sacrifice is offered, charity given, austerity practiced, or action performed without faith, is called 'ASAT' (unreal), O Partha. It is of no value here in this life or in the next.”
Commentary & Insights
Krishna concludes Chapter 17 with a powerful warning about the futility of faithless action. In Vedic culture, rituals performed without trust and devotion (aśraddhayā) were considered spiritually dead, bringing no benefit to the performer or society.
Practical Application
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Bring authentic presence and belief to your practices today, avoiding empty, mechanical routines.
Reflections & Notes
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Self-Reflection Prompts
- How does a lack of belief and interest in what you are doing make your work 'empty' (asat) and exhausting?
- What is the key takeaway of Chapter 17 for your daily lifestyle, eating choices, and work?
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17.28
अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत्
Shankara comments that without faith (śraddhā), all efforts are wasted. A faithless act is ASAT because it does not yield any spiritual result or purify the intellect. It fails to bring happiness here and cannot lead to liberation in the afterlife. Thus, faith is the essential ingredient that sanctifies human life.