अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा धर्मस्यास्य परन्तप। अप्राप्य मां निवर्तन्ते मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि।।9.3।।
ashraddadhānāḥ puruṣā dharmasyāsya paramtapaḥ. aprāpya māṁ nivartante mṛtyusaṁsāravartmani.
Translation
Those without faith in this dharma, O destroyer of enemies, cannot attain Me; they keep returning to the world of death and rebirth.
Word Meanings
aśraddadhānāḥ — those who are faithless; puruṣāḥ — such persons; dharmasya — toward the process of religion; asya — this; param-tapa — O killer of the enemies; aprāpya — without obtaining; mām — Me; nivartante — come back; mṛtyu — of death; saṁsāra — in material existence; vartmani — on the path.
Understanding the Verse
Verse 9.3 of the Bhagavad Gita expands on the fate of individuals who lack faith (aśraddadhānāḥ) in the divine principle that sustains all of dharma. In the larger context of Chapter 9, Krishna reveals his all‑pervasive nature and the myriad ways in which the material world is pervaded by his energy. By this point, Arjuna has been reminded that the supreme reality can be approached not only through rigorous ascetic practices but also through sincere devotion. The term puruṣāḥ here does not refer to a specific group of people; rather, it designates all beings who, despite being capable of understanding, remain indifferent or skeptical toward the path of devotion. Their disbelief creates a barrier that prevents them from experiencing the direct, personal relationship with the Divine that Krishna offers.
The phrase dharmasyāsya indicates that the specific dharma being discussed is the divine law revealed by Krishna – the law of self‑realization through surrender (bhakti). When one does not accept this dharma, they are caught in a cycle of birth and death (mṛtyusaṁsāravartmani). The verse stresses that ignorance of the supreme truth does not merely result in a temporary lapse; it binds the soul to the continuous churn of samsara, forcing it to undergo repeated incarnations. This rebirth is not a random event but a direct consequence of the soul’s inability to attain the ultimate goal, which is union with the Divine (mām, "Me").
Krishna’s address, param‑tapa ("O conqueror of enemies"), is an honorific for Arjuna, reminding him that despite his prowess as a warrior, the true battle is internal – the struggle against ignorance and ego. By calling Arjuna this, Krishna also underscores that the same force that conquers external foes can overcome the inner enemy of doubt. The verb nivartante ("they return") emphasizes the repetitive nature of this return: it is not a one‑time slip but an ongoing pattern that persists until the seeker embraces true faith.
The verse serves a dual purpose. First, it warns those who dismiss the teachings of the Gita that their spiritual progress will be stunted, leading them to endless cycles of birth and death. Second, it reassures the sincere devotee that surrendering to Krishna’s divine will dissolve the chains of samsara, granting immediate access to the supreme reality. In practical terms, the message urges modern readers to cultivate unwavering faith in the spiritual path, to practice devotion without skepticism, and to recognize that the ultimate escape from sorrow lies in aligning oneself with the divine dharma.
Thus, 9.3 is a poignant reminder that faith is not a peripheral accessory but the central engine that propels the soul beyond the material realm. By embracing the teachings wholeheartedly, one can break free from the endless cycle of existence and attain the eternal peace that resides in Krishna’s own presence.
