Gita Verses on Faith, Trust and Shraddha

This guide brings together 6 verses from the Bhagavad Gita on faith, trust and shraddha, drawn from chapters 4, 6, 7, 9 and 17.

Shraddha in the Gita is faith with sincerity — the kind of trust that quietly orients a whole life. Krishna says a person is made of their faith: whatever they truly trust in, that is what they become.

1. Verse 1 of 6Bhagavad Gita 4.39 →

   श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः।

   śhraddhāvān labhate jñānaṁ tat-paraḥ sanyatendriyaḥ jñānaṁ labdhvā parāṁ śhāntim achireṇādhigachchhati

   The one who is full of faith, devoted to it, and has subdued their senses obtains this knowledge; and upon obtaining the knowledge, they attain the supreme peace immediately.

   जो जितेन्द्रिय तथा साधन-परायण है, ऐसा श्रद्धावान् मनुष्य ज्ञानको प्राप्त होता है और ज्ञानको प्राप्त होकर वह तत्काल परम शान्तिको प्राप्त हो जाता है।

2. Verse 2 of 6Bhagavad Gita 9.3 →

   अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा धर्मस्यास्य परन्तप।

   aśhraddadhānāḥ puruṣhā dharmasyāsya parantapa aprāpya māṁ nivartante mṛityu-samsāra-vartmani

   Those who have no faith in this Dharma, O Parantapa, return to the path of this world without attaining Me.

   हे परंतप! इस धर्मकी महिमापर श्रद्धा न रखनेवाले मनुष्य मेरे प्राप्त न होकर मृत्युरूप संसारके मार्गमें लौटते रहते हैं अर्थात् बार-बार जन्मते-मरते रहते हैं।

3. Verse 3 of 6Bhagavad Gita 6.47 →

   योगिनामपि सर्वेषां मद्गतेनान्तरात्मना।

   yoginām api sarveṣhāṁ mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā śhraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ sa me yuktatamo mataḥ

   And among all the Yogis, he who, full of faith and with his inner self merged in Me, worships Me is deemed by Me to be the most devoted.

   सम्पूर्ण योगियोंमें भी जो श्रद्धावान् भक्त मुझमें तल्लीन हुए मनसे मेरा भजन करता है, वह मेरे मतमें सर्वश्रेष्ठ योगी है।

4. Verse 4 of 6Bhagavad Gita 17.3 →

   सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत।श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः॥

   sattvānurūpā sarvasya śhraddhā bhavati bhārata śhraddhā-mayo ‘yaṁ puruṣho yo yach-chhraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ

   The faith of each is in accordance with their nature, O Arjuna. People consist of their faith; as a person's faith is, so are they.

   हे भारत ! सभी मनुष्योंकी श्रद्धा अन्तःकरणके अनुरूप होती है। यह मनुष्य श्रद्धामय है। इसलिये जो जैसी श्रद्धावाला है, वही उसका स्वरूप है अर्थात् वही उसकी निष्ठा -- स्थिति है।

5. Verse 5 of 6Bhagavad Gita 7.21 →

   यो यो यां यां तनुं भक्तः श्रद्धयार्चितुमिच्छति।

   yo yo yāṁ yāṁ tanuṁ bhaktaḥ śhraddhayārchitum ichchhati tasya tasyāchalāṁ śhraddhāṁ tām eva vidadhāmyaham

   Whatever form any devotee desires to worship with faith, I make that same faith of his firm and unflinching.

   जो-जो भक्त जिस-जिस देवताका श्रद्धापूर्वक पूजन करना चाहता है, उस-उस देवताके प्रति मैं उसकी श्रद्धाको दृढ़ कर देता हूँ।

6. Verse 6 of 6Bhagavad Gita 4.40 →

   अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति।

   ajñaśh chāśhraddadhānaśh cha sanśhayātmā vinaśhyati nāyaṁ loko ’sti na paro na sukhaṁ sanśhayātmanaḥ

   The ignorant, the faithless, and the doubting self go to destruction; there is neither this world nor the other, nor happiness for the doubting one.

   विवेकहीन और श्रद्धारहित संशयात्मा मनुष्यका पतन हो जाता है। ऐसे संशयात्मा मनुष्यके लिये न यह लोक है न परलोक है और न सुख ही है।