Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, Verse 40

Chapter 6 – Dhyana Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

श्रीभगवानुवाच ।
पार्थ नैवेह नामुत्र विनाशस्तस्य विद्यते ।
न हि कल्याणकृत्कश्चिद् दुर्गतिं तात गच्छति ॥

Transliteration

śrībhagavānuvāca .
pārtha naiveha nāmutra vināśastasya vidyate .
na hi kalyāṇakṛtkaścid durgatiṃ tāta gacchati ॥

Meaning

The Blessed Lord said: O Partha, there is no destruction for him either in this world or in the next; for no one who does good, My dear friend, ever comes to a bad end.

Word meanings

पार्थ – O son of Pritha
न – not
एव – indeed
इह – here, in this world
अमुत्र – hereafter, in the next world
विनाशः – destruction
तस्य – of him
विद्यते – exists
हि – for
कल्याणकृत् – one who does good
कश्चित् – anyone
दुर्गतिम् – a bad end, an evil state
तात – dear one, My son
गच्छति – goes to

Anvaya (word order)

श्रीभगवान् उवाच — पार्थ, तस्य न एव इह न अमुत्र विनाशः विद्यते; हि तात, कश्चित् कल्याणकृत् दुर्गतिं न गच्छति ।

Explanation

To Arjuna's deep anxiety Krishna gives a most loving and firm reply. It is among the most reassuring verses of the Gita. Krishna says: such a seeker is destroyed neither in this world nor in the next.

In this verse Krishna addresses Arjuna as tata — a word a father uses for a beloved son or a teacher for a dear disciple. In that single word the Lord's tenderness shines through, as if to say, 'My child, do not worry.' Arjuna's fear was emotional; therefore the answer is filled with affection as well as reason.

The central principle is na hi kalyana-krit kashchid durgatim tata gachchhati — no one who does good ever goes to a bad end. Every step taken on the spiritual path, every good effort, every sincere prayer is a capital that is never lost. This confirms the promise of 2.40: on this path no effort is wasted, and even a little of this discipline protects one from great fear.

Shankara explains iha as this world and amutra as the next, and says that destruction here means obtaining a birth lower than before — which does not happen to one fallen from yoga. Ramanuja says that one who has begun yoga, even if he forgoes heavenly enjoyments, is not lost; his impressions of yoga carry him forward. In the following verses Krishna describes in detail what such a seeker receives.

Context

In 6.37–39 Arjuna feared the destruction of the unfinished yogi; this verse begins Krishna's reply. The following verses (6.41–45) describe where such a seeker is reborn and how he completes his journey.

Life lesson

No effort made in the direction of goodness is ever wasted. Even if today you cannot fully live up to your ideals, do not despair; every sincere step is becoming a lasting treasure of the soul.

Key terms

Kalyana-krit: one who does good and auspicious deeds
Durgati: an evil destiny, downfall
Tata: an affectionate address — dear one, My son
Iha-amutra: this world and the next