Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 40

Chapter 4 – Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति ।
नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः ॥

Transliteration

ajñaścāśraddadhānaśca saṃśayātmā vinaśyati .
nāyaṃ loko.asti na paro na sukhaṃ saṃśayātmanaḥ ॥

Meaning

The ignorant, the faithless and the doubting soul perish. For the doubting soul there is neither this world, nor the next, nor any happiness.

Word meanings

अज्ञः – the ignorant, one without discrimination
च – and
अश्रद्दधानः – one without faith
संशयात्मा – one whose mind is full of doubt
विनश्यति – perishes, comes to ruin
न – not
अयम् – this
लोकः – world
अस्ति – is
परः – the next world
सुखम् – happiness
संशयात्मनः – for the doubting soul

Anvaya (word order)

अज्ञः च अश्रद्दधानः च संशयात्मा च विनश्यति । संशयात्मनः अयं लोकः न अस्ति, न परः (लोकः), न सुखम् ।

Explanation

In the previous verse Krishna named the three qualities of a seeker who gains knowledge — faith, devotion and self-control. Now He describes the three opposite defects that keep a person far from knowledge — ignorance, faithlessness and doubt. This verse is a warning that completes the assurance of the previous one.

‘Ajnah’ — the ignorant, one who lacks discrimination between the Self and the non-Self. ‘Ashraddadhanah’ — one who has no faith in the words of the teacher and scripture. ‘Samshayatma’ — one whose mind is forever wavering in doubt. All three ‘vinashyati’ — perish, that is, are deprived of their highest good. Shankara observes that the ignorant and the faithless are ruined, but not as much as the doubter, who is the most unfortunate of all; that is why Krishna speaks of him in particular in the second half of the verse.

‘Nayam loko'sti na paro na sukham samshayatmanah’ — for the doubter there is neither this world, nor the next, nor happiness. Why? Because the ignorant person at least follows some path; but the doubter, questioning everything, cannot wholeheartedly adopt any path at all. He can neither carry out his worldly duties with commitment nor pursue spiritual practice. One who keeps thinking at every moment, ‘who knows whether this is right?’, can neither enjoy this life nor prepare for what lies beyond. Constant indecision eats away even the peace of the mind.

It is important to understand that the Gita is not against inquiry or questioning — in 4.34 ‘pariprashna’ itself was named as a means to knowledge. A genuine question seeks an answer and comes to rest when it is resolved; but the ‘samshayatma’ is one whose very nature has become doubt, who is satisfied by no answer. The teaching of this verse is to avoid such paralysing doubt.

Context

In 4.39 Krishna said that one who has faith, devotion and self-control gains knowledge and attains supreme peace. Here He describes the downfall of the opposite type — the ignorant, the faithless and the doubter. In the next verse (4.41) He says that actions do not bind one whose doubts have been cut asunder by knowledge.

Life lesson

Asking questions is good, but doubting everything endlessly cripples life. When questions arise, seek their answers, take guidance from someone experienced, and then move forward with conviction; staying stuck in indecision is the greatest loss.

Key terms

Ajna: the ignorant, lacking discrimination between Self and non-Self
Ashraddadhana: one without faith in the teacher and scripture
Samshayatma: one whose nature has become doubt, ever caught in indecision