In Bhagavad Gita 2.40, Krishna assures Arjuna that on this path no effort is lost and no harm results; even a little of this practice protects from great fear.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति
प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते
स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य
त्रायते महतो भयात् ॥ २-४० ॥
nehābhikramanāśo’sti
pratyavāyo na vidyate
svalpamapyasya dharmasya
trāyate mahato bhayāt
English transliteration nehaabhikramanaasho’sti
pratyavaayo na vidyate
svalpamapyasya dharmasya
traayate mahato bhayaat ॥ 2.40 ॥
Translation / Meaning
On this path no effort is ever lost, and no adverse effect arises. Even a little of this practice protects one from great fear.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| इह iha | here |
| अभिक्रमनाशः abhikramanāśaḥ | loss of effort abhikrama (effort, beginning) + nāśaḥ (loss) |
| अस्ति asti | is |
| प्रत्यवायः pratyavāyaḥ | adverse result |
| न na | not |
| विद्यते vidyate | exists |
| स्वल्पम् svalpam | a little |
| अपि api | even |
| अस्य asya | of this |
| धर्मस्य dharmasya | of this practice |
| त्रायते trāyate | protects |
| महतः mahataḥ | from great |
| भयात् bhayāt | fear |
Word-wise Chanting
- ne–hā–bhik–ra–ma–nā–śo–‘sti 8 syllables ne-haa-bhik-ra-ma-naa-sho-‘sti
- prat–ya–vā–yo na vid–ya–te | 8 syllables prat-ya-vaa-yo na vid-ya-te
- sval–pa–map–yas–ya dhar–mas–ya 8 syllables sval-pa-map-yas-ya dhar-mas-ya
- trā–ya–te ma–ha–to bha–yāt || 2-40 8 syllables traa-ya-te ma-ha-to bha-yaat
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 2 Verse 40
Context
Krishna begins describing the yoga of action (2.39) with an encouraging promise.
Meaning
In ritual action, a mistake or an unfinished ceremony could produce no result or even a harmful one. Krishna says the yoga of selfless action is different. Every sincere effort counts; nothing is wasted; there are no negative side effects. Even a small beginning shields one from the great fear of bondage and despair.
This is one of the most hopeful verses in the Gita. Spiritual growth is not all-or-nothing. A single moment of unselfish action, a few minutes of sincere practice, leaves a lasting mark. We need not be discouraged by how far we have to go; every step on this path is real.
In Practice
Do one small act of selfless service or a few minutes of quiet practice today, trusting that it is not wasted.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.