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TEXT 28 asraddhaya hutam dattam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION  But sacrifices,
austerities and charities performed without faith in the Supreme are nonpermanent,
O son of Prtha, regardless of whatever rites are performed. They are called
asat and are 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
Krsna 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 Krsna. No one can obtain success without following
this principle. Therefore, the best course is to work from the very beginning
in Krsna 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 worship demigods, ghosts, or Yaksas like
Kuvera. The mode of goodness is better than the modes of passion and ignorance,
but one who takes directly to Krsna 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 Krsna 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 Krsna consciousness directly.
That is the message of this Seventeenth Chapter.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Seventeenth Chapter of the Srimad Bhagavad-gita in the matter of the Divisions of Faith.
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