Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret - 09 - 03

The Shloka

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अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा धर्मस्यास्य परन्तप ।

अप्राप्य मां निवर्तन्ते मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि ॥

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Aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā dharmasyāsya parantapa.

Aprāpya māṁ nivartante mṛtyusaṁsāravarṭmani.

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Meaning / Summary

This shloka highlights the critical role of faith (śraddhā) in spiritual life, especially in the path of devotion. Lord Krishna emphasizes that without genuine faith in the teachings and the path of devotional service (Bhakti Yoga) that He is expounding, individuals cannot achieve ultimate liberation or attain Him. Such faith is not merely intellectual acceptance but a deep-seated conviction, trust, and earnestness that motivates one’s spiritual endeavors. Lack of faith leads to a continuation in the cycle of transmigration (samsara), meaning repeated births and deaths in the material world. It underscores that spiritual progress is not just about performing rituals or actions, but about the internal disposition and unwavering belief in the divine purpose and path.

O subduer of foes, persons who have no faith in this devotional service cannot attain Me; they return to the path of the cycle of death and rebirth.

Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that those who lack faith in the spiritual path and devotional service explained by Him will not be able to attain Him. Instead, they will remain caught in the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth in the material world.

In this verse, Lord Krishna addresses Arjuna as ‘Parantapa’, an epithet signifying a ‘subduer of foes’, reminding him of his prowess and capability. Krishna then delivers a crucial message regarding the importance of faith in the spiritual journey. He states that ‘Aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣāḥ’ – persons who are devoid of faith, or who lack sincere conviction – in ‘dharmasya asya’ – in this path of righteousness or the spiritual principles and devotional service (Bhakti Yoga) He is revealing – cannot achieve the ultimate goal. The consequence for such faithless individuals is that ‘aprāpya māṁ’ – without attaining Him, the Supreme Being – ‘nivartante’ – they return, or revert, to ‘mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani’ – the path of the cycle of death and rebirth. This implies that without genuine faith, spiritual practices become mechanical or superficial, lacking the depth required to break free from the material entanglement. Faith here is not blind belief, but a profound trust and conviction in the divine wisdom and the efficacy of the prescribed path, which enables one to transcend the illusory nature of material existence and attain union with the Divine.

Sentence - 1

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अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा धर्मस्यास्य परन्तप ।

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Meaning

O subduer of foes, persons who have no faith in this Dharma (path of righteousness or spiritual duty).

Meaning of Words

अश्रद्दधानाः	Aśraddadhānāḥ
Without faith, faithless, incredulous. This refers to those who lack sincere belief, conviction, or earnestness in the spiritual path, the teachings, or the divine. ‘Śraddhā’ means faith, and ‘aśraddadhānāḥ’ is its negation, implying a state of being devoid of such faith.
पुरुषा	puruṣāḥ
Persons, men, human beings. Individuals or people in general.
धर्मस्यास्य	dharmasyāsya
Of this dharma; of this righteousness, duty, or spiritual path. This is a compound of ‘dharmasya’ (of dharma) and ‘asya’ (of this). ‘Dharma’ in this context refers to the spiritual path, the teachings, or the devotional service (Bhakti Yoga) that Lord Krishna has been explaining. It encompasses the principles of righteous living and spiritual practice.
परन्तप	parantapa
O subduer of foes, O tormentor of enemies. This is an epithet used for Arjuna, meaning one who torments or destroys his enemies. It signifies Arjuna’s valor and strength, but also subtly implies that he should apply this same determination to overcome internal foes like doubt and lack of faith.

Sentence - 2

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अप्राप्य मां निवर्तन्ते मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि ॥

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Meaning

Without attaining Me, they return to the path of the cycle of death and rebirth.

Meaning of Words

अप्राप्य	Aprāpya
Without attaining, without achieving, not reaching. Indicating failure to reach or obtain the ultimate goal, which is Krishna Himself or liberation.
मां	māṁ
Me (Lord Krishna). Referring to Lord Krishna, the speaker of the Bhagavad Gita, indicating His supreme divine self.
निवर्तन्ते	nivartante
They return, they come back. They turn back or revert to their previous state or cycle, failing to transcend the material existence.
मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि	mṛtyusaṁsāravarṭmani
To the path of the cycle of death and rebirth. This is a compound word: ‘mṛtyu’ (death), ‘saṁsāra’ (the cycle of birth, death, and reincarnation), and ‘vartmani’ (on the path or track). It signifies being trapped in the continuous cycle of material existence, characterized by repeated births and deaths, rather than achieving liberation (moksha).

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