In Bhagavad Gita 6.38, Arjuna asks whether the seeker who has fallen from both paths perishes like a scattered cloud, without support and confused on the path to Brahman.
Sanskrit Verse
अर्जुन उवाच · Arjuna said
कच्चिन्नोभयविभ्रष्टश्
छिन्नाभ्रमिव नश्यति
अप्रतिष्ठो महाबाहो
विमूढो ब्रह्मणः पथि ॥ ६-३८ ॥
kaccinnobhayavibhraṣṭaś
chinnābhramiva naśyati
apratiṣṭho mahābāho
vimūḍho brahmaṇaḥ pathi
English transliteration kachchinnobhayavibhrashtash
chhinnaabhramiva nashyati
apratishtho mahaabaaho
vimoodho brahmanah pathi ॥ 6.38 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Fallen from both, does he not perish like a scattered cloud, O mighty-armed, without support and bewildered on the path to Brahman?
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कच्चित् kaccit | whether |
| न na | not |
| उभयविभ्रष्टः ubhayavibhraṣṭaḥ | fallen from both ubhaya (both) + vibhraṣṭaḥ (fallen) |
| छिन्नाभ्रम् chinnābhram | a scattered cloud chinna (broken) + abhram (cloud) |
| इव iva | like |
| नश्यति naśyati | perishes |
| अप्रतिष्ठः apratiṣṭhaḥ | without support |
| महाबाहो mahābāho | O mighty-armed |
| विमूढः vimūḍhaḥ | bewildered |
| ब्रह्मणः brahmaṇaḥ | of Brahman |
| पथि pathi | on the path |
Word-wise Chanting
- kac–cin–no–bha–ya–vibh–raṣ–ṭaś– 8 syllables kach-chin-no-bha-ya-vibh-rash-tash-
- chin–nābh–ra–mi–va naś–ya–ti | 8 syllables chhin-naabh-ra-mi-va nash-ya-ti
- ap–ra–tiṣ–ṭho ma–hā–bā–ho 8 syllables ap-ra-tish-tho ma-haa-baa-ho
- vi–mū–ḍho brah–ma–ṇaḥ pa–thi || 6-38 8 syllables vi-moo-dho brah-ma-nah pa-thi
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 38
Context
Arjuna develops his question from 6.37.
Meaning
Arjuna fears that such a seeker loses both worlds: they gave up worldly ambitions but did not reach spiritual perfection. Like a small cloud broken off from a larger one, which disperses before giving rain, they might vanish without benefit, apratiṣṭha, without support anywhere.
The image of the scattered cloud captures the fear of “in-betweenness”: having left one shore and not reached the other. Many sincere people feel this at times. Krishna’s reply will dispel this fear completely.
In Practice
Reflect on whether you sometimes feel stuck between worldly life and spiritual life. Hold this feeling gently as you continue.
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.