In Bhagavad Gita 4.40, Krishna says that the ignorant, the faithless and the doubter perish; for the doubting soul there is neither this world, nor the next, nor happiness.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च
संशयात्मा विनश्यति
नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो
न सुखं संशयात्मनः ॥ ४-४० ॥
ajñaścāśraddadhānaśca
saṃśayātmā vinaśyati
nāyaṃ loko’sti na paro
na sukhaṃ saṃśayātmanaḥ
English transliteration ajnashchaashraddadhaanashcha
samshayaatmaa vinashyati
naayam loko’sti na paro
na sukham samshayaatmanah ॥ 4.40 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The ignorant, the faithless and the doubting soul perish. For the doubter there is neither this world, nor the world beyond, nor happiness.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अज्ञः ajñaḥ | the ignorant |
| च ca | and |
| अश्रद्दधानः aśraddadhānaḥ | the faithless |
| च ca | and |
| संशयात्मा saṃśayātmā | the doubting soul saṃśaya (doubt) + ātmā (soul) |
| विनश्यति vinaśyati | perishes |
| न na | not |
| अयम् ayam | this |
| लोकः lokaḥ | world |
| अस्ति asti | is |
| न na | not |
| परः paraḥ | the next |
| न na | not |
| सुखम् sukham | happiness |
| संशयात्मनः saṃśayātmanaḥ | for the doubter |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–jñaś–cāś–rad–da–dhā–naś–ca 8 syllables a-jnash-chaash-rad-da-dhaa-nash-cha
- saṃ–śa–yāt–mā vi–naś–ya–ti | 8 syllables sam-sha-yaat-maa vi-nash-ya-ti
- nā–yaṃ lo–ko–‘sti na pa–ro 8 syllables naa-yam lo-ko-‘sti na pa-ro
- na su–khaṃ saṃ–śa–yāt–ma–naḥ || 4-40 8 syllables na su-kham sam-sha-yaat-ma-nah
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 4 Verse 40
Context
In contrast to 4.39, Krishna describes those who lack faith.
Meaning
The ignorant do not know; the faithless refuse to trust; the habitual doubter can never commit. Of these, the saṃśayātmā, the one whose very nature is doubt, suffers most. Constant doubt prevents any action or progress, so neither worldly success nor spiritual growth nor happiness is possible.
Healthy questioning is valued in the Gita, as Arjuna’s many questions show. But chronic doubt that never allows commitment paralyses life. The remedy is to question sincerely, then act on the best understanding we have, and keep learning.
In Practice
Identify a doubt that keeps you from acting. Gather what understanding you can, then take one step forward despite remaining uncertainty.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga (Knowledge and Renunciation of Action). 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.