Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, Verse 39

Chapter 6 – Dhyana Yoga · Speaker: Arjuna

Sanskrit verse

एतन्मे संशयं कृष्ण छेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः ।
त्वदन्यः संशयस्यास्य छेत्ता न ह्युपपद्यते ॥

Transliteration

etanme saṃśayaṃ kṛṣṇa chettumarhasyaśeṣataḥ .
tvadanyaḥ saṃśayasyāsya chettā na hyupapadyate ॥

Meaning

O Krishna, You alone are able to dispel this doubt of mine completely; for no one other than You can be found who could remove it.

Word meanings

एतत् – this
मे – my
संशयम् – doubt
कृष्ण – O Krishna
छेत्तुम् – to cut, to dispel
अर्हसि – You are able, You ought
अशेषतः – completely
त्वत् – than You
अन्यः – other
संशयस्य – of the doubt
अस्य – this
छेत्ता – remover, one who cuts
न – not
हि – for
उपपद्यते – is found, is possible

Anvaya (word order)

कृष्ण, मे एतं संशयम् अशेषतः छेत्तुम् अर्हसि; हि त्वत् अन्यः अस्य संशयस्य छेत्ता न उपपद्यते ।

Explanation

Completing his question, Arjuna makes a humble request: cut away this doubt entirely, for no one but You can do it.

The word chhettum — to cut — deserves notice. In the Gita doubt is seen as a knot or bond to be severed by the sword of knowledge (4.42). Doubt makes the seeker hesitant and inactive; without cutting it at the root it is hard to move forward. Asheshatah — completely — Arjuna wants no trace of doubt to remain.

Arjuna says, tvad-anyah samshayasyasya chhetta na hy upapadyate — none other than You can remove this doubt. This is not merely a statement of faith; it is reasoned. The question concerns the destiny of a soul after death, which lies beyond direct experience. Even sages and gods do not fully know it; only the all-knowing Lord, who knows the course of all beings past, present and future, can give a certain answer. Shankara says that no sage or god could dispel this doubt better than You.

The verse teaches that for life's deepest questions we should turn to the right source — scripture, a true teacher and the Divine. From the next verse begins Krishna's detailed and reassuring reply.

Context

In 6.37–38 Arjuna expressed his fear about the destiny of the unfinished yogi; here he asks Krishna to dispel it. From 6.40 Krishna replies that one who does good never comes to a bad end.

Life lesson

Do not keep nursing your doubts; place them humbly before a worthy guide. A clear answer from the right source lightens the mind and gives the strength to move forward.

Key terms

Samshaya: doubt, uncertainty
Chhetta: one who cuts away doubt
Asheshatah: completely, leaving nothing