Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 40

Chapter 2 – Sankhya Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते ।
स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् ॥

Transliteration

nehābhikramanāśo.asti pratyavāyo na vidyate .
svalpamapyasya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt ॥

Meaning

On this path no effort is ever lost, and no adverse result arises. Even a little of this discipline protects one from great fear.

Word meanings

न – not
इह – here, on this path
अभिक्रमनाशः – loss of effort begun
अस्ति – there is
प्रत्यवायः – adverse result, contrary effect
न विद्यते – does not exist
स्वल्पम् – a little
अपि – even
अस्य – of this
धर्मस्य – dharma, discipline (karma yoga)
त्रायते – protects
महतः – from great
भयात् – fear

Anvaya (word order)

इह अभिक्रमनाशः न अस्ति, प्रत्यवायः न विद्यते । अस्य धर्मस्य स्वल्पम् अपि महतः भयात् त्रायते ।

Explanation

Before unfolding karma yoga, Krishna describes a wonderful feature of this path so that Arjuna — and every seeker — may walk it with enthusiasm. He offers three assurances.

First, ‘nehabhikrama-nasho ’sti’ — no effort begun here is lost. In ordinary undertakings, such as a ritual sacrifice, if the work is left incomplete it bears no fruit — like a half-built house that cannot be lived in. But every small effort in karma yoga purifies the mind, and that purification is never wasted.

Second, ‘pratyavayo na vidyate’ — there is no adverse result. In Vedic rituals an error in mantra or procedure could bring a contrary effect. In desireless karma yoga there is no such danger, because what matters is not outer procedure but inner attitude.

Third, ‘svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat’ — even a little of this discipline saves one from great fear. Shankara explains the ‘great fear’ as the fear of samsara, the cycle of birth and death. Even a little selfless intention moves a person in the direction that ends in liberation.

The verse is a message of hope for anyone who thinks the spiritual life is too hard. You need not be perfect to begin; by beginning you move towards perfection. Every small selfless act is a seed that will bear fruit in its time.

Context

In 2.39 Krishna announced the teaching of yoga-buddhi. Here He assures Arjuna that no effort on this path is wasted. In the next verse (2.41) He says that on this path the intellect is one-pointed.

Life lesson

Every small step on the spiritual path counts. Do not wait to be perfect; begin today with a little selfless action — it will never be wasted.

Key terms

Abhikrama: effort, undertaking
Pratyavaya: adverse result, harm from a fault
Mahad bhaya: the great fear — of the cycle of birth and death