अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् ।
असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ॥
असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
हे पार्थ अश्रद्धासे किया हुआ हवन, दिया हुआ दान और तपा हुआ तप तथा और भी जो,कुछ किया जाय, वह सब असत् ऐसा कहा जाता है । उसका फल न यहाँ होता है, न मरनेके बाद ही होता है अर्थात् उसका कहीं भी सत् फल नहीं होता ॥
English
O Partha, sacrifice, charity, austerity, and any deed done without trust are called unreal. Its fruit exists neither here nor after death.
What this verse means
Actions like sacrifice, charity, and austerity lose their value when done without trust. They produce no real result in this life or after death.
Context & commentary
Krishna has just explained that the word 'sat' belongs to real, worthy action. Now, with Arjuna still shaken on the battlefield, he closes the thought by saying that sacrifice, giving, and austerity done without trust are empty and bear no lasting fruit.
Why this verse still matters
You donate money because it looks good, or apologize because others expect it, but your heart is absent. The act may happen, yet it leaves no real trace inside you or around you.
The takeaway
Trust is what makes effort alive; without it, even noble action feels hollow.
Word-by-word translation
अश्रद्धया (without trust) / हुतं (offered in sacrifice) / दत्तं (given) / तपःतप्तं (austerity performed) / कृतं (done) / च (and) / यत् (whatever) / असत् (unreal) / इति (thus) / उच्यते (is called) / पार्थ (O Partha) / न (not) / च (and) / तत् (that) / प्रेत्य (after death) / न (not) / इह (here)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga — The Three Kinds of Faith, which contains 28 verses.
Explore related themes: shraddha (34 verses), tapas (22 verses), dana (11 verses)