Shloka 31
श्रद्धाविरहितो धर्मो नेहामुत्र च तत्फलम् / धर्माच्च जायते ह्यर्थो धर्मात्कामो ऽपि जायते
śraddhāvirahito dharmo nehāmutra ca tatphalam / dharmācca jāyate hyartho dharmātkāmo 'pi jāyate
Dharma that is devoid of faith yields no fruit—neither in this world nor in the next. From dharma indeed arises artha (prosperity), and from dharma even kāma (fulfilment of desires) is born.
Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Shraddha is essential for dharma to bear fruit; dharma is the generative source of artha and kama when rightly pursued.
Vedantic Theme: Primacy of inner disposition (bhava) in karma; alignment of purusharthas under dharma.
Application: Cultivate faith/sincerity in ethical action; pursue prosperity and pleasure within dharmic boundaries; avoid hollow religiosity.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: teaching discourse
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: emphasis on shraddha as determinant of ritual and moral efficacy
FAQs
This verse states that dharma performed without śraddhā becomes fruitless—bringing no benefit either in worldly life or in the afterlife—so inner conviction and reverence are essential for merit to mature.
It explicitly links the efficacy of dharma to outcomes across both realms: without faith it yields no result anywhere, while dharma properly upheld becomes the cause of both material prosperity (artha) and fulfilment of legitimate desires (kāma).
Perform duties, charity, worship, and ancestral rites with sincerity and mindful intent—not as empty routine—so that ethical action supports both a stable life (artha) and balanced enjoyment (kāma) without losing spiritual direction.