Bhagavad Gita — Sankhya Yoga, Shloka 40
Sankhya Yoga
नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते । स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् ॥ २.४० ॥
nehābhikrama-nāśo 'sti pratyavāyo na vidyate | svalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt || 2.40 ||
On this path there is no loss of effort, nor does any contrary result arise; even a little of this dharma protects one from great fear.
In this (path) there is no loss of effort, nor is there adverse result; even a little of this dharma protects from great fear.
Here there is no destruction of effort, nor does reversal occur; even a small amount of this dharma saves from great fear.
abhikrama-nāśa is often understood as “wasted effort,” and pratyavāya as “negative consequence/backsliding.” ‘Great fear’ is commonly read as existential anxiety tied to saṃsāra; some devotional readings take it as fear of downfall. The verse broadly reassures continuity of spiritual practice.
FAQs
It reduces perfectionism and fear of failure by presenting practice as cumulative: small steps matter and do not become meaningless if one falters.
It suggests that spiritual-ethical cultivation has enduring efficacy, countering the idea that partial progress is nullified by interruption.
Krishna encourages Arjuna to adopt buddhi-yoga by assuring that the path is safe from the typical risks of worldly striving.
Applicable to long-term habits (meditation, ethical discipline, learning): incremental progress can protect against major setbacks like despair or loss of direction.