Chapter XVII · Śloka 28
Śrī Kṛṣṇa uvāca
अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत् |
असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ||
असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह ||
aśraddhayā hutaṃ dattaṃ tapas taptaṃ kṛtaṃ ca yat |
asad ity ucyate pārtha na ca tat pretya no iha ||
asad ity ucyate pārtha na ca tat pretya no iha ||
Whatever is offered in sacrifice, given in charity, or practiced in austerity without faith — it is called 'asat,' O Pārtha. It avails nothing here or hereafter.
The chapter closes where it began: with śraddhā as the axis of all spiritual life. Without it, every act — however correct in form — is asat, unreal, of no lasting value. With it, even the simplest act participates in the Absolute. The whole of dharmic life rests on this invisible foundation.