In Bhagavad Gita 6.37, Arjuna asks what becomes of one who has faith but does not strive enough, whose mind wanders from yoga and who fails to reach perfection.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
अयतिः श्रद्धयोपेतो
योगाच्चलितमानसः
अप्राप्य योगसंसिद्धिं
कां गतिं कृष्ण गच्छति ॥ ६-३७ ॥
ayatiḥ śraddhayopeto
yogāccalitamānasaḥ
aprāpya yogasaṃsiddhiṃ
kāṃ gatiṃ kṛṣṇa gacchati
English transliteration ayatih shraddhayopeto
yogaachchalitamaanasah
apraapya yogasamsiddhim
kaam gatim krishna gachchhati ॥ 6.37 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Arjuna said: What becomes, O Krishna, of one who has faith but is not sufficiently disciplined, whose mind strays from yoga, and who does not attain perfection in yoga?
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अयतिः ayatiḥ | one who does not strive enough |
| श्रद्धया śraddhayā | with faith |
| उपेतः upetaḥ | endowed |
| योगात् yogāt | from yoga |
| चलितमानसः calitamānasaḥ | whose mind has strayed calita (strayed) + mānasaḥ (mind) |
| अप्राप्य aprāpya | not attaining |
| योगसंसिद्धिम् yogasaṃsiddhim | perfection in yoga |
| काम् kām | what |
| गतिम् gatim | destination |
| कृष्ण kṛṣṇa | O Kṛṣṇa |
| गच्छति gacchati | goes |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–ya–tiḥ śrad–dha–yo–pe–to 8 syllables a-ya-tih shrad-dha-yo-pe-to
- yo–gāc–ca–li–ta–mā–na–saḥ | 8 syllables yo-gaach-cha-li-ta-maa-na-sah
- ap–rāp–ya yo–ga–saṃ–sid–dhiṃ 8 syllables ap-raap-ya yo-ga-sam-sid-dhim
- kāṃ ga–tiṃ kṛṣ–ṇa gac–cha–ti || 6-37 8 syllables kaam ga-tim krish-na gach-chha-ti
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 6 Verse 37
Context
Arjuna raises a concern about failure on the spiritual path (6.37–6.39).
Meaning
Arjuna is thinking of a sincere seeker who has śraddhā, faith, but lacks enough effort, or whose mind wanders and who dies before reaching perfection. What happens to such a person? Has their effort been wasted?
This is a question many seekers ask: “What if I do not make it in this life?” Arjuna’s question gives voice to this fear, and Krishna’s answer will be deeply reassuring.
In Practice
If you sometimes fear that your spiritual efforts are inadequate, write that fear down. Keep it in mind as you read Krishna’s answer.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga (The Yoga of Meditation). 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.