Bhagavad Gita BG 2.40
Chapter 2, Verse 40 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते । स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् ॥ ४० ॥
nehābhikrama-nāśo 'sti pratyavāyo na vidyate sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt
Meaning
In this endeavour there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.
Understanding
A reassuring teaching about the path of Yoga. Unlike worldly endeavours where one can lose everything through failure, in this spiritual path: 'na abhikrama-nāśaḥ' — there is no loss of what one has begun, and 'na pratyavāyaḥ' — no adverse result from partial practice. Even a small amount ('svalpam api') of this dharma protects from the greatest fear ('mahato bhayāt'). The greatest fear is the fear of spiritual ruin and the cycle of rebirth — and even a little progress on this path guards against it.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अभिक्रमनाशः | abhikrama-nāśaḥ | loss of what has been begun / wasted effort |
| प्रत्यवायः | pratyavāyaḥ | adverse result / harm from partial practice |
| स्वल्पम् अपि | sv-alpam api | even a little / even a small amount |
| अस्य धर्मस्य | asya dharmasya | of this dharma / of this righteous path |
| त्रायते | trāyate | protects / saves / rescues |
| महतः भयात् | mahataḥ bhayāt | from the greatest fear / from the most terrible danger |
| न इह | neha | not here / in this path there is no |
| अस्ति | asti | is / exists |
| न विद्यते | na vidyate | does not exist / is not found |