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It is said that in a spiritual journey, one has to be eagerly engaged in the practice one has selected and the effort must lead to control of the senses. And Shri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita emphasizes that this is possible only for a person who is endowed with Shraddha.<ref name=":4" />  <blockquote>श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः । ४.३९ ।<ref name=":6" /> ''śraddhāvām̐llabhate jñānaṁ tatparaḥ saṁyatendriyaḥ । 4.39 ।''</blockquote>Commenting on this verse Adi Shankaracharya says that practices like prostrations, etc. are external in nature and invariably, not fruitful as they can be performed even by fraudulent or deceitful people. However, it is not so in the case of those endowed with Shraddha.<ref name=":4" /> <blockquote>प्रणिपातादिस्तु बाह्योऽनैकान्तिकोऽपि भवति मायावित्वादिसंभवात् न तु तत् श्रद्धावत्त्वादौ...<ref name=":21">Bhagavad Gita, Adhyaya 4, [https://www.gitasupersite.iitk.ac.in/srimad?language=dv&field_chapter_value=4&field_nsutra_value=39&htshg=1&scsh=1&etsiva=1&etpurohit=1&etgb=1&setgb=1&etssa=1&etadi=1 Verse 39 with Shankara Bhashya and translation] </ref>  

It is said that in a spiritual journey, one has to be eagerly engaged in the practice one has selected and the effort must lead to control of the senses. And Shri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita emphasizes that this is possible only for a person who is endowed with Shraddha.<ref name=":4" />  <blockquote>श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः । ४.३९ ।<ref name=":6" /> ''śraddhāvām̐llabhate jñānaṁ tatparaḥ saṁyatendriyaḥ । 4.39 ।''</blockquote>Commenting on this verse Adi Shankaracharya says that practices like prostrations, etc. are external in nature and invariably, not fruitful as they can be performed even by fraudulent or deceitful people. However, it is not so in the case of those endowed with Shraddha.<ref name=":4" /> <blockquote>प्रणिपातादिस्तु बाह्योऽनैकान्तिकोऽपि भवति मायावित्वादिसंभवात् न तु तत् श्रद्धावत्त्वादौ...<ref name=":21">Bhagavad Gita, Adhyaya 4, [https://www.gitasupersite.iitk.ac.in/srimad?language=dv&field_chapter_value=4&field_nsutra_value=39&htshg=1&scsh=1&etsiva=1&etpurohit=1&etgb=1&setgb=1&etssa=1&etadi=1 Verse 39 with Shankara Bhashya and translation] </ref>  

''praṇipātādistu bāhyo'naikāntiko'pi bhavati māyāvitvādisaṁbhavāt na tu tat śraddhāvattvādau...'' </blockquote>This indicates that shraddha is an internal quality and a necessary condition for spiritual practices. For, without shraddha, all the efforts and control of senses go in vain. Even in the yoga sutras, shraddha is mentioned as one of the key factors for attaining 'Samadhi', the final stage described in Ashtangayoga.<blockquote>श्रद्धावीर्यस्मृतिसमाधिप्रज्ञापूर्वक इतरेषाम् ॥२०॥<ref>Yoga Sutra, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_-_%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7 Pada 1]</ref> śraddhāvīryasmr̥tisamādhiprajñāpūrvaka itareṣām ॥20॥</blockquote>Meaning: To others (this Samadhi) comes through faith, energy, memory, concentration, and discrimination of the real.<ref>Swami Vivekananda, [http://www.hinduonline.co/DigitalLibrary/SmallBooks/PatanjaliYogaSutraSwamiVivekanandaSanEng.pdf Patanjali Yoga Sutras]</ref>  

''praṇipātādistu bāhyo'naikāntiko'pi bhavati māyāvitvādisaṁbhavāt na tu tat śraddhāvattvādau...'' </blockquote>This indicates that shraddha is an internal quality and a necessary condition for spiritual practices. For, without shraddha, all the efforts and control of senses go in vain. Even in the yoga sutras, shraddha is mentioned as one of the key factors for attaining 'Samadhi', the final stage described in Ashtangayoga.<blockquote>श्रद्धावीर्यस्मृतिसमाधिप्रज्ञापूर्वक इतरेषाम् ॥२०॥<ref>Yoga Sutra, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_-_%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7 Pada 1]</ref> śraddhāvīryasmr̥tisamādhiprajñāpūrvaka itareṣām ॥20॥</blockquote>Meaning: To others (this Samadhi) comes through faith, energy, memory, concentration, and discrimination of the real.<ref>Swami Vivekananda, [http://www.hinduonline.co/DigitalLibrary/SmallBooks/PatanjaliYogaSutraSwamiVivekanandaSanEng.pdf Patanjali Yoga Sutras]</ref>

This clearly lays out the importance of shraddha in the practice of spirituality.<ref name=":4" />  

 

yogināmapi sarveṣāṁ madgatenāntarātmanā । śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ sa me yuktatamo mataḥ ॥6.47॥</blockquote>This clearly lays out the importance of shraddha in the practice of spirituality.<ref name=":4" />  

=== Shraddha in Integral Yoga ===

=== Shraddha in Integral Yoga ===

evaṁ satatayuktā ye bhaktāstvāṁ paryupāsate । ye cāpyakṣaramavyaktaṁ teṣāṁ ke yogavittamāḥ ॥12.1॥</blockquote>In response to this, Shri Krishna replies that <blockquote>मय्यावेश्य मनो ये मां नित्ययुक्ता उपासते । श्रद्धया परयोपेतास्ते मे युक्ततमा मताः ॥१२.२॥<ref name=":10" />  

evaṁ satatayuktā ye bhaktāstvāṁ paryupāsate । ye cāpyakṣaramavyaktaṁ teṣāṁ ke yogavittamāḥ ॥12.1॥</blockquote>In response to this, Shri Krishna replies that <blockquote>मय्यावेश्य मनो ये मां नित्ययुक्ता उपासते । श्रद्धया परयोपेतास्ते मे युक्ततमा मताः ॥१२.२॥<ref name=":10" />  

mayyāveśya mano ye māṁ nityayuktā upāsate । śraddhayā parayopetāste me yuktatamā matāḥ ॥12.2॥ </blockquote>Meaning: The best spiritual practitioner is one who fixes his or her mind on Shri Krishna and is always engaged in worshipping Shri Krishna with deep shraddha.  

mayyāveśya mano ye māṁ nityayuktā upāsate । śraddhayā parayopetāste me yuktatamā matāḥ ॥12.2॥ </blockquote>Meaning: The best spiritual practitioner is one who fixes his or her mind on Shri Krishna and is always engaged in worshipping Shri Krishna with deep shraddha.

 

In this context, it is noted that in an earlier verse of the Bhagavad Gita it is mentioned that only those who have shraddha obtain knowledge.<ref name=":4" /><blockquote>श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं ... ॥४.३९॥<ref name=":6" /> śraddhāvām̐llabhate jñānaṁ ... ॥4.39॥</blockquote>This establishes the unequivocal relevance of shraddha to both the paths ie. the path of knowledge and that of devotion.

Moreover, in verse 12.2, Shri Krishna firmly states that the path of devotion is superior to the path of knowledge and uses shraddha to define devotion. And emphasizes in the concluding verse of the same adhyaya that enumerates on bhaktiyoga that those endowed with shraddha are dearest to Him.<ref name=":4" /><blockquote>ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासते । श्रद्दधाना मत्परमा भक्तास्तेऽतीव मे प्रियाः ॥१२.२०॥<ref name=":10" />

Moreover, in verse 12.2, Shri Krishna firmly states that the path of devotion is superior to the path of knowledge and uses shraddha to define devotion. And emphasizes in the concluding verse of the same adhyaya that enumerates on bhaktiyoga that those endowed with shraddha dearest to Him.<ref name=":4" /><blockquote>ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासते । श्रद्दधाना मत्परमा भक्तास्तेऽतीव मे प्रियाः ॥१२.२०॥<ref name=":10" />

ye tu dharmyāmr̥tamidaṁ yathoktaṁ paryupāsate । śraddadhānā matparamā bhaktāste'tīva me priyāḥ ॥12.20॥</blockquote>Thus, shraddha is a bhava (emotion) that one has for another person; in this case, Shri Krishna who is none other than the Supreme being personified. And this shraddha of a devotee is considered the highest of virtues that bears fruits that do not diminish in value with rebirth.<ref name=":4" />

ye tu dharmyāmr̥tamidaṁ yathoktaṁ paryupāsate । śraddadhānā matparamā bhaktāste'tīva me priyāḥ ॥12.20॥</blockquote>Thus, shraddha is what describes a spiritual practitioner, both who practices bhaktiyoga (the path of devotion) and jnanayoga (the path of knowledge). And a devotee's shraddha is considered the highest.<ref name=":4" />

It can be seen that shraddha is a bhāva (or emotion) that one has for another person, and it is often expressed as—I have shraddha for X (where X is a target person, or a text as noted earlier). Considering that Krsna is considered Supreme being personified, shraddha is something that one has for Him. Thus, shraddha is one of the highest virtues, and it bears fruits that do not diminish in value with rebirth.  

== मोक्षसाधनत्वम् ॥ Shraddha as Moksha Sadhana ==

== मोक्षसाधनत्वम् ॥ Shraddha as Moksha Sadhana ==

ayatiḥ śraddhayopeto yogāccalitamānasaḥ । aprāpya yogasaṁsiddhiṁ kāṁ gatiṁ kr̥ṣṇa gacchati ॥6.37॥</blockquote>Meaning: What happens ultimately to the person who has shraddha but fails to make the necessary effort or does not succeed in the path of spirituality because of unsteady manas or mind.

ayatiḥ śraddhayopeto yogāccalitamānasaḥ । aprāpya yogasaṁsiddhiṁ kāṁ gatiṁ kr̥ṣṇa gacchati ॥6.37॥</blockquote>Meaning: What happens ultimately to the person who has shraddha but fails to make the necessary effort or does not succeed in the path of spirituality because of unsteady manas or mind.

This is one of the many important questions Arjuna asks of Shri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. And in verses 6.40–6.47, Shri Krishna explains that nothing is lost for the person who has shraddha and who has made some effort. Such a person picks up in the next life from the same state that he or she has been in the present life. That is, no merit is lost in transitioning to a new life. Thus, shraddha always bears fruits that are never lost.

This is one of the many important questions Arjuna asks of Shri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. And in verses 6.40–6.47, Shri Krishna explains that nothing is lost for the person who has shraddha and who has made some effort. Such a person picks up in the next life from the same state that he or she has been in the present life. That is, no merit is lost even while transitioning to a new life. Thus, shraddha always bears fruits that are never lost.

 

In verse 6.47, Krsna eulogises shraddha as the highest virtue and says that even among yogins (practitioners of yoga) the best is one who chants the name of Krsna surrendering with shraddha.  

It can be seen that shraddha is a bhāva (or emotion) that one has for another person, and it is often expressed as—I have shraddha for X (where X is a target person, or a text as noted earlier). Considering that Krsna is considered Supreme being personified, shraddha is something that one has for Him. Thus, shraddha is one of the highest virtues, and it bears fruits that do not diminish in value with rebirth.

It can be seen that shraddha is a bhāva (or emotion) that one has for another person, and it is often expressed as—I have shraddha for X (where X is a target person, or a text as noted earlier). Considering that Krsna is considered Supreme being personified, shraddha is something that one has for Him. Thus, shraddha is one of the highest virtues, and it bears fruits that do not diminish in value with rebirth.

अयतिः श्रद्धयोपेतो योगाच्चलितमानसः । अप्राप्य योगसंसिद्धिं कां गतिं कृष्ण गच्छति ॥६.३७॥

अयतिः श्रद्धयोपेतो योगाच्चलितमानसः । अप्राप्य योगसंसिद्धिं कां गतिं कृष्ण गच्छति ॥६.३७॥

 

The question Arjuna asks of Krsna in verse 6.37 is one of the many important questions he asks in the Bhagavad-Gītā. He asks Krsna what happens ultimately to the person who has shraddha but fails to make the necessary effort. This question builds on verse 4.39, though after many things have been explained in between. In verse 4.39 shraddha was presented as necessary condition for achieving jñāna, and it is in this context that Arjuna asks Krsna about what happens when shraddha is present but one does not succeed in the path of spirituality because of unsteady manas or mind. In verses 6.39–6.47, Krsna explains that nothing is lost for the person who has shraddha and who has made some effort. Such a person picks up in the next life from the same state that he or she has been in the present life; that is, '''no merit is lost in transitioning to a new life.''' Thus, shraddha is not only the necessary condition, but always bears fruits that are never lost.

The question Arjuna asks of Krsna in verse 6.37 is one of the many important questions he asks in the Bhagavad-Gītā. He asks Krsna what happens ultimately to the person who has shraddha but fails to make the necessary effort. This question builds on verse 4.39, though after many things have been explained in between. In verse 4.39 shraddha was presented as necessary condition for achieving jñāna, and it is in this context that Arjuna asks Krsna about what happens when shraddha is present but one does not succeed in the path of spirituality because of unsteady manas or mind. In verses 6.39–6.47, Krsna explains that nothing is lost for the person who has shraddha and who has made some effort. Such a person picks up in the next life from the same state that he or she has been in the present life; that is, '''no merit is lost in transitioning to a new life.''' Thus, shraddha is not only the necessary condition, but always bears fruits that are never lost.