In Bhagavad Gita 6.40, Krishna assures Arjuna that such a seeker is not destroyed in this world or the next, for no one who does good ever comes to a bad end.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
पार्थ नैवेह नामुत्र
विनाशस्तस्य विद्यते
न हि कल्याणकृत्कश्चिद्
दुर्गतिं तात गच्छति ॥ ६-४० ॥
pārtha naiveha nāmutra
vināśastasya vidyate
na hi kalyāṇakṛtkaścid
durgatiṃ tāta gacchati
English transliteration paartha naiveha naamutra
vinaashastasya vidyate
na hi kalyaanakritkashchid
durgatim taata gachchhati ॥ 6.40 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The Blessed Lord said: O Partha, there is no destruction for him, either in this world or in the next. For no one who does good, my dear friend, ever comes to a bad end.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| पार्थ pārtha | O Pārtha |
| न na | not |
| एव eva | indeed |
| इह iha | here |
| न na | not |
| अमुत्र amutra | hereafter |
| विनाशः vināśaḥ | destruction |
| तस्य tasya | of him |
| विद्यते vidyate | exists |
| न na | not |
| हि hi | indeed |
| कल्याणकृत् kalyāṇakṛt | one who does good kalyāṇa (good) + kṛt (doer) |
| कश्चित् kaścit | anyone |
| दुर्गतिम् durgatim | bad end |
| तात tāta | my dear friend |
| गच्छति gacchati | goes |
Word-wise Chanting
- pār–tha nai–ve–ha nā–mut–ra 8 syllables paar-tha nai-ve-ha naa-mut-ra
- vi–nā–śas–tas–ya vid–ya–te | 8 syllables vi-naa-shas-tas-ya vid-ya-te
- na hi kal–yā–ṇa–kṛt–kaś–cid 8 syllables na hi kal-yaa-na-krit-kash-chid
- dur–ga–tiṃ tā–ta gac–cha–ti || 6-40 8 syllables dur-ga-tim taa-ta 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 40
Context
Krishna begins his reassuring answer to Arjuna’s question (6.40–6.45).
Meaning
Krishna’s answer is warm and definitive. There is no loss for the sincere seeker, here or hereafter. He addresses Arjuna as tāta, a tender word used for a dear child or friend. The principle is universal: the one who does good, kalyāṇa-kṛt, never comes to ruin.
This is one of the most comforting verses in the Gita. Every sincere effort counts. Even if we fall short of our ideals in this life, the good we have done is never lost. It carries us forward.
In Practice
Remember this verse when you feel your efforts are not enough. Do one good deed today, trusting that it will never be wasted.
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.