Verse 2.40

नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते ।

स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् ॥

2.40

Transliteration

nehābhikramanāśo'sti pratyavāyo na vidyate |

svalpamapyasya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt ||

By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · @indic-transliteration/sanscript 1.3.3

Translation

In this there is no loss of effort, nor is there any harm (production of contrary results or transgression). Even a little of this knowledge (even a little practice of this Yoga) protects one from great fear.

From the owner's sheet · +1 more

Word by word

not
here
loss of effort
is
adverse result
not
exists

a little
even
of this
of practice
protects
from great
fear

By Sanskrit System · Machine draft · claude-opus-5-5 · 2026-11-08

Explanation

Krishna reassures Arjuna about the path of yoga. On this path no effort is wasted, and there is no adverse result, unlike rituals that fail if performed imperfectly. Even a little practice of this dharma protects from great fear. The verse offers encouragement to anyone who doubts their ability to follow the teaching completely. What counts is the direction of one's effort, and partial progress has real value. Many readers find this one of the most hopeful lines in the chapter.