Bhagavad-gita 17.28 - A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada

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Bhagavad-gita 17.28

 

asraddhaya hutam dattam

tapas taptam kritam ca yat

asad ity ucyate partha

na ca tat pretya no iha

TRANSLATION

Anything done as sacrifice, charity or penance without faith in the Supreme, O

son of Pritha, is impermanent. It is called asat and is useless both in this

life and the next.

PURPORT

Anything done without the transcendental objective -- whether it be sacrifice,

charity or penance -- is useless. Therefore in this verse it is declared that

such activities are abominable. Everything should be done for the Supreme in

Krishna consciousness. Without such faith, and without the proper guidance,

there can never be any fruit. In all the Vedic scriptures, faith in the Supreme

is advised. In the pursuit of all Vedic instructions, the ultimate goal is the

understanding of Krishna. No one can obtain success without following this

principle. Therefore, the best course is to work from the very beginning in

Krishna consciousness under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master. That

is the way to make everything successful.

In the conditional state, people are attracted to worshiping demigods, ghosts,

or Yakshas like Kuvera. The mode of goodness is better than the modes of passion

and ignorance, but one who takes directly to Krishna consciousness is

transcendental to all three modes of material nature. Although there is a

process of gradual elevation, if one, by the association of pure devotees, takes

directly to Krishna consciousness, that is the best way. And that is recommended

in this chapter. To achieve success in this way, one must first find the proper

spiritual master and receive training under his direction. Then one can achieve

faith in the Supreme. When that faith matures, in course of time, it is called

love of God. This love is the ultimate goal of the living entities. One should

therefore take to Krishna consciousness directly. That is the message of this

Seventeenth Chapter.

 

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada