Bhagavad Gita 9.3 · Krishna
Without trust, the circle continues
अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा धर्मस्यास्य परन्तप।
अप्राप्य मां निवर्तन्ते मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि॥
aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā dharmasyāsya parantapaaprāpya māṃ nivartante mṛtyusaṃsāravartmani
Those without faith in this dharma, Parantapa, do not reach Me, and return to the road of death and rebirth.
Words
- dharma
- śraddhā
What it means
Krishna notes that without shraddha, trust, people don't take up this path. So they don't reach him, and continue the cycle of death and rebirth. It's not punishment. It's like being offered a key and never trying the door. Trust is what lets the gift work.
The story
Arjuna has come to trust Krishna through this conversation. Krishna shows him why that trust matters. It's the hand that reaches out to take what's offered.
In your life
Imagine someone who's told a treatment could help but never tries it. Nothing changes. Is there something good on offer in your life you haven't trusted enough to try?
Trust is the hand that receives the gift.