Without faith, it's hollow

aśraddhayā hutaṃ dattaṃ tapastaptaṃ kṛtaṃ ca yatasadityucyate pārtha na ca tatprepya no iha

Whatever is offered, given, practised or done without faith is called asat, unreal, Partha. It helps neither here nor hereafter.

What it means

Krishna ends chapter seventeen with a warning. Anything done without shraddha, faith and sincerity, is asat, unreal. It doesn't help in this life or the next. Faith here doesn't mean blind belief. It means meaning it, putting your heart into what you do.

The story

The chapter began with Arjuna's question about faith. It ends with Krishna's answer. Whatever you do, mean it. Sincerity makes it real.

In your life

Think of an apology said through gritted teeth versus one said from the heart. Same words, different worlds. Whatever you do today, put your heart into it, or don't do it yet.