Gita 9.3
अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषा धर्मस्यास्य परन्तप।
अप्राप्य मां निवर्तन्ते मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि।।
aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā dharmasyāsya parantapa aprāpya māṁ nivartante mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani
"Those without faith in this dharma, O scorcher of foes, without attaining Me, return to the path of death and rebirth."
What This Means:
The consequence of lacking faith: missing Krishna, returning to the cycle of death and rebirth. Faith (shraddha) isn't blind belief—it's the openness to receive and the trust to practice.
Going Deeper:
Krishna doesn't say 'those who disbelieve are punished.' He says they simply don't attain him and continue cycling. It's not punishment but consequence—like someone who doesn't plant seeds doesn't harvest.
How To Apply This:
Faith isn't certainty—it's willingness to engage despite uncertainty. If you wait for proof before practicing, you'll wait forever. Trust enough to start; experience confirms.
Key Sanskrit Terms:
Aśraddadhānā= Without faithMṛtyu-saṁsāra= Cycle of death and rebirthVartman= Path