Bhagavad Gita 2.40नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते।स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् ॥
nehābhikrama-nāśho ’sti pratyavāyo na vidyate
svalpam apyasya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt
Sanskrit recitation
A clearer mind for action · 2.39–2.46 · Teaching
Translation
In this, there is no loss of effort, nor is there any harm produced, nor any transgression. Even a little of this knowledge protects one from great fear.
Hindi translation
मनुष्यलोकमें इस समबुद्धिरूप धर्मके आरम्भका नाश नहीं होता, इसके अनुष्ठानका उलटा फल भी नहीं होता और इसका थोड़ासा भी अनुष्ठान (जन्म-मरणरूप) महान् भयसे रक्षा कर लेता है।
Meaning
If a religious ceremony is left uncompleted, it is a wastage as the performer cannot realise the fruits. But it is not so in the case of Karma Yoga because every action causes immediate purification of the heart.In agriculture there is uncertainty. The farmer may till the land, plough and sow the seed but he may not get a crop if there is no rain. This is not so in Karma Yoga. There is no uncertainty at all. Further, there is no chance of any harm coming out of it. In the case of medical treatment great harm will result from the doctors injudicious treatment if he uses a wrong medicine. But it is not so in the case of Karma Yoga. Anything done, however little it may be, in this path of Yoga, the Yoga of action, saves one from great fear of being caught in the wheel of birth and death. Lord Krishna here extols Karma Yoga in order to create interest in Arjuna in this Yoga.
After Swami Sivananda
A clearer mind for action· 2.39–2.46→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 2.39This, which has been taught to you, is wisdom concerning Sankhya. Now listen to wisdom…
2.40In this, there is no loss of effort, nor is there any harm produced, nor any…
- 2.41Here, O joy of the Kurus, there is only one single-pointed determination; many-branched…
- 2.42The unwise, taking pleasure in the eulogizing words of the Vedas, utter flowery speech,…
- 2.43Full of desires, with heaven as their goal, (they speak words that are directed to ends)…
- 2.44For those who are attached to pleasure and power, whose minds are drawn away by such…
- 2.45The Vedas deal with the three attributes; be thou above these three attributes. O Arjuna,…
- 2.46To the Brahmana who has known the Self, all the Vedas are of as much use as a reservoir of…
Word-by-word→
- na
- not
- api
- even
- iha
- in this
- asti
- there is
- asya
- of this
- bhayāt
- danger
- vidyate
- is
- su-alpam
- a little
- trāyate
- saves
- abhikrama
- efforts
- dharmasya
- occupation
- mahataḥ
- from great
- nāśhaḥ
- loss
- pratyavāyaḥ
- adverse result
Read this when you feel
Related verses
- 6.14Serene-minded, fearless, firm in the vow of a Brahmachari, having controlled their mind,…
- 2.35The great chariot-warriors will think that you have withdrawn from the battle out of fear,…
- 18.30The intellect which knows the path of work and renunciation, what should be done and what…
- 5.14Neither does the Lord create agency nor actions for the world, nor union with the fruits…