O Partha, sacrifice, charity, austerity, and any deed done without trust are called unreal. Its fruit exists neither here nor after death.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 17.28
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 ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
अश्रद्धयाwithout trustहुतंoffered in sacrificeदत्तंgivenतपःतप्तंausterity performedकृतंdoneचandयत्whateverअसत्unrealइतिthusउच्यतेis calledपार्थO Parthaनnotचandतत्thatप्रेत्यafter deathनnotइहhere
Read literallywithout trust · offered in sacrifice · given · austerity performed · done · and · whatever · unreal · thus · is called · O Partha · not · and · that · after death · not · here
Understanding the verse
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It shifts action from performance to sincerity, showing that inner trust is what gives deeds weight.
Actions like sacrifice, charity, and austerity lose their value when done without trust. They produce no real result in this life or after death.
02
On the battlefield
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.
03
In your life
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.”
Explore related themes: shraddha(34 verses), tapas(22 verses), dana(11 verses)
Common questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 17.28 mean?
Actions like sacrifice, charity, and austerity lose their value when done without trust. They produce no real result in this life or after death.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 17.28?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga" (The Three Kinds of Faith).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 17.28?
Verse 28 sits in Chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita — Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga, "The Three Kinds of Faith". The chapter has 28 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 17.28 matter today?
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.
It shifts action from performance to sincerity, showing that inner trust is what gives deeds weight.
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.
“Trust is what makes effort alive; without it, even noble action feels hollow.”
Explore related themes: shraddha (34 verses), tapas (22 verses), dana (11 verses)