Chapter 2, Verse 40 (Bhagavad Gita 2.40)
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yog – Transcendental Knowledge
Sanskrit Shloka
नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते। स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात्
Transliteration
nehābhikrama-nāśho ’sti pratyavāyo na vidyate svalpam apyasya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt
Word Meanings
na—not; iha—in this; abhikrama—efforts; nāśhaḥ—loss; asti—there is; pratyavāyaḥ—adverse result; na—not; vidyate—is; su-alpam—a little; api—even; asya—of this; dharmasya—occupation; trāyate—saves; mahataḥ—from great; bhayāt—danger
Translation
In this path, there is no loss of effort, nor is there any harm caused by partial completion. Even a small portion of this practice protects one from great fear.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse offers profound encouragement to the spiritual seeker by assuring that any progress made on the path of Yoga is never lost. Unlike worldly pursuits, where incomplete tasks often yield no results, spiritual practice creates an indelible impression on the soul that persists beyond death. It teaches us that our inner transformation is a cumulative journey, where even the smallest sincere step serves as a shield against existential dread. By focusing on the consistency of the effort rather than the immediate outcome, one finds freedom from the anxiety of failure and the fear of the unknown.