What the scriptures say about fear

What do the scriptures say about fear?

The texts call it bhaya (भय). Fear of what may be lost or may come. The Upanishad traces it to a second, an other (dvitīyād vai bhayaṃ bhavati); the Gita promises that even a little of this path protects from great fear. They set fearlessness, joy and self-knowledge against it.

189 verses
75 stories
Weighs on the mind

Read the verses Find it on the map

Krishna

नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते । स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् ॥

nehābhikramanāśo’sti pratyavāyo na vidyate | svalpamapyasya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt ||

On this path no effort is lost and no harm results. Even a little of this practice protects one from great fear.

Bhagavad Gita 2.40

Fear in the texts' own words

Someone in the verse is in it, or the text names it outright. Many readers find their own day here.

Bhartrihari
भोगे रोगभयं कुले च्युतिभयं वित्ते नृपालाद्भयं माने दैन्यभयं बले रिपुभयं रूपे जराया भयम् । शास्त्रे वादिभयं गुणे खलभयं काये कृतान्ताद्भयं सर्वं वस्तु भयान्वितं भुवि नृणां वैराग्यमेवाभयम् ॥
bhoge rogabhayaṃ kule cyutibhayaṃ vitte nṛpālādbhayaṃ māne dainyabhayaṃ bale ripubhayaṃ rūpe jarāyā bhayam | śāstre vādibhayaṃ guṇe khalabhayaṃ kāye kṛtāntādbhayaṃ sarvaṃ vastu bhayānvitaṃ bhuvi nṛṇāṃ vairāgyamevābhayam ||
In pleasure lies the fear of disease; in high birth, the fear of a fall; in wealth, fear of the king; in honour, fear of humiliation; in strength, fear of enemies; in beauty, fear of old age; in learning, fear of rival debaters; in virtue, fear of the wicked; in the body, fear of death. Everything in this world carries fear; only dispassion is fearless.
Bhartrihari · Vairagya Shatakam
Depicts each thing one has brings its particular fear. our reading
Tulsidas
फेरति मनहुँ मातु कृत खोरी। चलत भगति बल धीरज धोरी॥ जब समुझत रघुनाथ सुभाऊ। तब पथ परत उताइल पाऊ ॥
pherati manahuṁ mātu kṛt khorī| calat bhagati bal dhīraj dhorī|| jab samujhat raghunāth subhāū| tab path parat utāil pāū ||
It was as if his mother's wrong held him back, while the strength of devotion drove him on like a patient ox. Whenever he remembered Raghunath's nature, his feet moved faster on the path.
Ramcharitmanas, Ayodhya Kand 2.225 (chaupai 3)
Shows him unsure of his welcome. our reading
Kausalya
देव पितर सब तुम्हहि गोसाईं। राखहुँ पलक नयन की नाईं॥ अवधि अंबु प्रिय परिजन मीना। तुम्ह करुनाकर धरम धुरीना ॥
dev pitar sab tumhahi gosāīṃ| rākhahuṁ palak nayan kī nāīṃ|| avadhi aṃbu priy parijan mīnā| tumha karunākar dharam dhurīnā ||
May all the gods and ancestors guard you, my lord, the way eyelids guard the eyes. The term of your exile is the water, and your loved ones are the fish in it; you are kind and steadfast in what is right.
Ramcharitmanas, Ayodhya Kand 56 (chaupai 1)
Hanuman
जदपि नाथ बहु अवगुन मोरें। सेवक प्रभुहि परै जनि भोरें॥ नाथ जीव तव मायाँ मोहा। सो निस्तरइ तुम्हारेहिं छोहा ॥
jadapi nāth bahu avagun moreṃ| sevak prabhuhi parai jani bhoreṃ|| nāth jīv tav māyāṁ mohā| so nistarai tumhārehiṃ chohā ||
Though I have many faults, Lord, let the servant not slip from the master's memory. Lord, every soul is bewildered by your illusion; it is freed only by your tenderness.
Ramcharitmanas, Kishkindha Kand 4.4 (chaupai 1)
Names the fear of slipping from the Lord's memory. our reading
Seer
अजात इत्येवं कश्चिद्भीरुः प्रपद्यते । रुद्र यत्ते दक्षिणं मुखं तेन मां पाहि नित्यम् ॥
ajāta ityevaṃ kaścidbhīruḥ prapadyate | rudra yatte dakṣiṇaṃ mukhaṃ tena māṃ pāhi nityam ||
Knowing you as the Unborn, someone afraid comes to you for refuge: Rudra, with that kind, southern face of yours, protect me always.
Shvetashvatara Upanishad 4.21
Shows the seer calling himself afraid and not hiding it. our reading
Arjuna
सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति । वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ॥
sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṃ ca pariśuṣyati | vepathuśca śarīre me romaharṣaśca jāyate ||
My limbs give way, my mouth is parched, my body trembles and my hair stands on end.
Bhagavad Gita 1.29-30
Trembling and hair standing on end. our reading
Arjuna
अर्जुन उवाच अयतिः श्रद्धयोपेतो योगाच्चलितमानसः । अप्राप्य योगसंसिद्धिं कां गतिं कृष्ण गच्छति ॥
arjuna uvāca ayatiḥ śraddhayopeto yogāccalitamānasaḥ | aprāpya yogasaṃsiddhiṃ kāṃ gatiṃ kṛṣṇa gacchati ||
Arjuna said: One who has faith but does not strive enough, whose mind falls away from yoga before reaching perfection, what end does he come to, Krishna?
Bhagavad Gita 6.37
The fear of having believed, tried, slipped and not made it. our reading
Arjuna
कच्चिन्नोभयविभ्रष्टश्छिन्नाभ्रमिव नश्यति । अप्रतिष्ठो महाबाहो विमूढो ब्रह्मणः पथि ॥
kaccinnobhayavibhraṣṭaśchinnābhramiva naśyati | apratiṣṭho mahābāho vimūḍho brahmaṇaḥ pathi ||
Fallen from both, does he not perish like a broken cloud, without support, mighty-armed one, bewildered on the path to Brahman?
Bhagavad Gita 6.38
Seer
सोऽबिभेत् तस्मादेकाकी बिभेति । स हायमीक्षां चक्रे यन्मदन्यन्नास्ति कस्मान्नु बिभेमीति । तत एवास्य भयं वीयाय । कस्माद्ध्यभेष्यत् द्वितीयाद्वै भयं भवति ॥
so’bibhet tasmādekākī bibheti | sa hāyamīkṣāṃ cakre yanmadanyannāsti kasmānnu bibhemīti | tata evāsya bhayaṃ vīyāya | kasmāddhyabheṣyat dvitīyādvai bhayaṃ bhavati ||
He was afraid; that is why one who is alone is afraid. Then he thought: 'Since there is nothing but me, what am I afraid of?' At that his fear left him. What was there to fear? Fear arises only from a second.
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.2

What feeds it, step by step

Sequences the texts state outright, in their own order.

Three kinds of people before an obstacle

Bhartrihari, Niti Shataka 27

The low do not begin because they fear obstacles. The middling begin, then stop when obstacles strike. The best, struck by obstacles again and again, do not give up what they have begun.

Bhartrihari
प्रारभ्यते न खलु विघ्नभयेन नीचैः प्रारभ्य विघ्नविहता विरमन्ति मध्याः ॥ विघ्नैः पुनः पुनरपि प्रतिहन्यमानाः प्रारब्धमुत्तमगुणा न परित्यजन्ति ॥
prārabhyate na khalu vighnabhayena nīcaiḥ prārabhya vighnavihatā viramanti madhyāḥ || vighnaiḥ punaḥ punarapi pratihanyamānāḥ prārabdhamuttamaguṇā na parityajanti ||
The lowest do not begin at all, for fear of obstacles. The middling begin, but stop when obstacles strike. The best, struck by obstacles again and again, do not give up what they have begun.
Bhartrihari · Niti Shatakam

Fear comes from a second

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.2-3

Alone, he was afraid. He reflected that since there is nothing other than him, he has nothing to fear. The fear left. Fear comes only from a second. Alone, he also found no joy, and one who is alone does not rejoice.

Seer
सोऽबिभेत् तस्मादेकाकी बिभेति । स हायमीक्षां चक्रे यन्मदन्यन्नास्ति कस्मान्नु बिभेमीति । तत एवास्य भयं वीयाय । कस्माद्ध्यभेष्यत् द्वितीयाद्वै भयं भवति ॥
so’bibhet tasmādekākī bibheti | sa hāyamīkṣāṃ cakre yanmadanyannāsti kasmānnu bibhemīti | tata evāsya bhayaṃ vīyāya | kasmāddhyabheṣyat dvitīyādvai bhayaṃ bhavati ||
He was afraid; that is why one who is alone is afraid. Then he thought: 'Since there is nothing but me, what am I afraid of?' At that his fear left him. What was there to fear? Fear arises only from a second.
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.2

Six faults that block every rise

Mahabharata, Udyoga Parva 33

A person who wants to prosper should give up six faults. The faults are too much sleep, drowsiness, fear, anger, laziness, and procrastination.

Vidura
षड्दोषाः पुरुषेणेह हातव्या भूतिमिच्छता / निद्रा तन्द्री भयं क्रोध आलस्यं दीर्घसूत्रता
ṣaḍdoṣāḥ puruṣeṇeha hātavyā bhūtimicchatā / nidrā tandrī bhayaṃ krodha ālasyaṃ dīrghasūtratā
Six faults must be given up by anyone who wants to prosper: too much sleep, drowsiness, fear, anger, laziness and procrastination.
Mahabharata · Udyoga Parva · Vidura Niti

The chariot that wins

Ramcharitmanas, Lanka Kand 80 (Gita Press)

Ram
सौरज धीरज तेहि रथ चाका। सत्य सील दृढ़ ध्वजा पताका॥ बल बिबेक दम परहित घोरे। छमा कृपा समता रजु जोरे ॥
sauraj dhīraj tehi rath cākā| satya sīl dṛṛh dhvajā patākā|| bal bibek dam parahit ghore| chamā kṛpā samatā raju jore ||
Valour and patience are the wheels of that chariot; truth and good conduct are its firm flag and banner. Strength, discernment, self-control and kindness to others are its horses, yoked with the reins of forgiveness, compassion and evenness of mind.
Ramcharitmanas · Lanka Kand

What heals it

What the texts set against it, and the verses that give footing.

Fearlessnessabhaya
Even a little of this path protects from great fear and brings fearlessness. stated in the text
Gita 2.40; 16.1
Surrenderśaraṇāgati
Rama promises safety to the afraid because he carries what they lack. stated in the text
Valmiki 6.18.33 GP; Gita 9.22; Manas Sundar
Letting govairāgya
What is held is what is feared for; loosening the hold is fearlessness. stated in the text
Bhartrihari Vairagya 31; Shampaka
Steadinessdhṛti
Steadiness answers fear, for courage and steadiness are the wheels of the chariot. stated in the text
Manas Lanka 80; Vidula
Self-knowledgeātma-jñāna
The Upanishads' root answer. stated in the text
Taittiriya 2.9; Brihad 1.4.2

Krishna
नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते । स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् ॥
nehābhikramanāśo’sti pratyavāyo na vidyate | svalpamapyasya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt ||
On this path no effort is lost and no harm results. Even a little of this practice protects one from great fear.
Bhagavad Gita 2.40
A small sincere effort already protects. our reading
Krishna
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते । तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ॥
ananyāścintayanto māṃ ye janāḥ paryupāsate | teṣāṃ nityābhiyuktānāṃ yogakṣemaṃ vahāmyaham ||
To those who think of me alone and worship me, ever devoted, I bring what they lack and preserve what they have.
Bhagavad Gita 9.22
Shows what you have is guarded. our reading
Bhartrihari
भोगे रोगभयं कुले च्युतिभयं वित्ते नृपालाद्भयं माने दैन्यभयं बले रिपुभयं रूपे जराया भयम् । शास्त्रे वादिभयं गुणे खलभयं काये कृतान्ताद्भयं सर्वं वस्तु भयान्वितं भुवि नृणां वैराग्यमेवाभयम् ॥
bhoge rogabhayaṃ kule cyutibhayaṃ vitte nṛpālādbhayaṃ māne dainyabhayaṃ bale ripubhayaṃ rūpe jarāyā bhayam | śāstre vādibhayaṃ guṇe khalabhayaṃ kāye kṛtāntādbhayaṃ sarvaṃ vastu bhayānvitaṃ bhuvi nṛṇāṃ vairāgyamevābhayam ||
In pleasure lies the fear of disease; in high birth, the fear of a fall; in wealth, fear of the king; in honour, fear of humiliation; in strength, fear of enemies; in beauty, fear of old age; in learning, fear of rival debaters; in virtue, fear of the wicked; in the body, fear of death. Everything in this world carries fear; only dispassion is fearless.
Bhartrihari · Vairagya Shatakam
Names fear as the shadow of holding, not as weakness. our reading
Ram
जग महुँ सखा निसाचर जेते। लछिमनु हनइ निमिष महुँ तेते॥ जौं सभीत आवा सरनाईं। रखिहउँ ताहि प्रान की नाईं ॥
jag mahuṁ sakhā nisācar jete| lachimanu hanai nimiṣ mahuṁ tete|| jauṃ sabhīt āvā saranāīṃ| rakhihauṁ tāhi prān kī nāīṃ ||
Friend, Lakshman could destroy every demon in the world in a moment. And if he has come to me in fear, seeking shelter, I will keep him as dear as my own life.
Ramcharitmanas, Sundar Kand 42 (chaupai 4)
The frightened one is promised safekeeping. our reading
Ram
सौरज धीरज तेहि रथ चाका। सत्य सील दृढ़ ध्वजा पताका॥ बल बिबेक दम परहित घोरे। छमा कृपा समता रजु जोरे ॥
sauraj dhīraj tehi rath cākā| satya sīl dṛṛh dhvajā patākā|| bal bibek dam parahit ghore| chamā kṛpā samatā raju jore ||
Valour and patience are the wheels of that chariot; truth and good conduct are its firm flag and banner. Strength, discernment, self-control and kindness to others are its horses, yoked with the reins of forgiveness, compassion and evenness of mind.
Ramcharitmanas · Lanka Kand
Shows the frightened friend that real equipment is already present. our reading
Ram
सकृदेव प्रपन्नाय तवास्मीति च याचते। अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो ददाम्येतद्ब्रतं मम॥
sakṛdeva prapannāya tavāsmīti ca yācate| abhayaṃ sarvabhūtebhyo dadāmyetadbrataṃ mama||
Whoever comes to me even once and says 'I am yours', asking for shelter, I give freedom from fear, from every being. This is my vow.
Valmiki Ramayana · Yuddha Kanda
Names shelter promised without conditions or a second asking. our reading
Krishna
दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः । वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते ॥
duḥkheṣvanudvignamanāḥ sukheṣu vigataspṛhaḥ | vītarāgabhayakrodhaḥ sthitadhīrmunirucyate ||
One whose mind is not shaken by sorrow, who has no craving for pleasures, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind.
Bhagavad Gita 2.56
Shows one mark is being free of fear. our reading
Bhartrihari
अम्भोजिनीवनविहारविलासमेव हंसस्य हन्ति नितरां कुपितो विधाता । न त्वस्य दुग्धजलभेदविधौ प्रसिद्धां वैदग्ध्यकीर्तिमपहर्तुमसौ समर्थः ॥
ambhojinīvanavihāravilāsameva haṃsasya hanti nitarāṃ kupito vidhātā | na tvasya dugdhajalabhedavidhau prasiddhāṃ vaidagdhyakīrtimapahartumasau samarthaḥ ||
An angry Creator may destroy the swan's delight of roaming its lotus pond, but he cannot take away its famous skill of separating milk from water.
Bhartrihari · Niti Shatakam
Shows what matters cannot be confiscated. our reading

Practices that grow fearlessness, surrender and letting go

Verses that give something to do, today or in the hard moment.

Krishna
श्री भगवानुवाच असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलं । अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते ॥
śrī bhagavānuvāca asaṃśayaṃ mahābāho mano durnigrahaṃ calaṃ | abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate ||
The Blessed Lord said: Undoubtedly, mighty-armed one, the mind is restless and hard to control. But it is held by practice and by detachment, Kaunteya.
Bhagavad Gita 6.35
Shows loosening the pull of what the mind runs to. our reading
Krishna
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति । तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः ॥
patraṃ puṣpaṃ phalaṃ toyaṃ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati | tadahaṃ bhaktyupahṛtamaśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ ||
Whoever offers me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, that offering of love from the pure-hearted I accept.
Bhagavad Gita 9.26
Shows devotion as what makes the gift. our reading
The seers
भर्गो विश्वसमर्चितं यदिह ते ह्यास्ते दयासागर ! तन्नो बुद्धिमहर्निशं गणपते ! शक्तचा स्वया सत्वरम । संरक्ष्यासत एव कर्मनिवहात् सत्कर्मणि प्रेरयेत् सियाऽलङ्कृतवामपार्श्व ! भगवस्त्वां सन्नमामो वयमा ॥
bhargo viśvasamarcitaṃ yadiha te hyāste dayāsāgara ! tanno buddhimaharniśaṃ gaṇapate ! śaktacā svayā satvarama | saṃrakṣyāsata eva karmanivahāt satkarmaṇi prerayet siyā’laṅkṛtavāmapārśva ! bhagavastvāṃ sannamāmo vayamā ||
Ocean of compassion, Ganapati: may your radiance, which the whole world worships, by its own power quickly guard our minds, day and night, from wrong action, and urge them to good action. Blessed one, with Siddhi at your left side, we bow to you.
Dheesh Gita 7.27
Shows namamah, we bow. our reading
Bhishma
प्राणकान्तारपाथेयं संसारोच्छेदभेषजम् / दुःखशोकपरित्राणं हरिरित्यक्षरद्वयम्॥]
prāṇakāntārapātheyaṃ saṃsārocchedabheṣajam / duḥkhaśokaparitrāṇaṃ harirityakṣaradvayam||]
Provisions for the wilderness of life, medicine that cuts the bonds of the world, rescue from sorrow and grief: the two syllables 'Ha-ri'.
Mahabharata, Shanti 46.127
Shows remembering the name. our reading
Markandeya
सर्वेषामेव भूतानां पिता माता च माधवः / गच्छध्वमेनं शरणं शरण्यं कौरवर्षभाः
sarveṣāmeva bhūtānāṃ pitā mātā ca mādhavaḥ / gacchadhvamenaṃ śaraṇaṃ śaraṇyaṃ kauravarṣabhāḥ
Madhava is the father and the mother of all beings. Go to him for refuge, best of the Kurus; he is the refuge.
Mahabharata, Vana 192.56
Tulsidas
कुंद इंदु सम देह उमा रमन करुना अयन। जाहि दीन पर नेह करउ कृपा मर्दन मयन ॥
kuṃd iṃdu sam deh umā raman karunā ayan| jāhi dīn par neh karau kṛpā mardan mayan ||
Fair as the jasmine and the moon, beloved of Uma, home of compassion, who loves the lowly: may the destroyer of Kama show me grace.
Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 1 (sortha 4)
Shows an opening prayer for grace. our reading
Tulsidas
राम नाम मनिदीप धरु जीह देहरीं द्वार। तुलसी भीतर बाहेरहुँ जौं चाहसि उजिआर ॥
rām nām manidīp dharu jīh deharīṃ dvār| tulasī bhītar bāherahuṁ jauṃ cāhasi ujiār ||
Tulsi says: if you want light both inside and outside, place the name of Ram like a jewelled lamp on the threshold of your tongue.
Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 1.19 (doha 1)
Shows the name kept at the threshold of the tongue. our reading
Tulsidas
भायँ कुभायँ अनख आलस हूँ। नाम जपत मंगल दिसि दसहूँ॥ सुमिरि सो नाम राम गुन गाथा। करउँ नाइ रघुनाथहि माथा ॥॥
bhāyaṁ kubhāyaṁ anakh ālas hūṁ| nām japat maṃgal disi dasahūṁ|| sumiri so nām rām gun gāthā| karauṁ nāi raghunāthahi māthā ||||
Said with love or without it, even in irritation or laziness, repeating the name brings good in all ten directions. Remembering that name, I bow my head to Raghunath and begin his story.
Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 1.26 (chaupai 1)
Saying the name as one is. our reading

People who lived it

Someone in the scriptures went through this, and the story shows what turned.

From the Gita
What becomes of one who falls from yoga
Arjuna fears that one who falls short is lost like a torn cloud. Krishna promises that no one who does good comes to ruin; past effort carries forward and they strive again.
No sincere effort is wasted; you pick up where you left off.
From the Mahabharata
Vidura Niti: the wise and the fool
Sleepless before the peace talks, King Dhritarashtra calls his half-brother Vidura for counsel. Vidura describes the marks of the wise and the fool, the faults that block progress, and the six joys of life.
Decide calmly, act steadily, forgive freely, and know what real happiness is made of.
From the Mahabharata
Markandeya and the child on the banyan leaf
At the end of an age, the sage Markandeya drifts alone over a flooded world and sees a radiant child on a banyan branch. The child draws him inside his body, where he sees all the worlds, then asks if he has been resting, tired. Narayana explains he showed himself because he saw Markandeya's distress. Markandeya tells the Pandavas that this child is Krishna, sitting with them.
When everything you knew is underwater, you have not been forgotten; you are being held.
From the Ramayana
Ram says goodbye to his friends
After six happy months, Ram sends his monkey and bear friends home with gifts. Angad, whose father is dead, begs to stay: Ram is his father and mother now. Ram embraces him and sends him on. To the boatman Guha he says: you are a brother to me; keep visiting.
Friendships made in hard times deserve to be kept; say so out loud.

Is this where you are?

Write a line about today. Your words find their place on the map, with a verse for each.

Nearby on the map

See fear on the whole map

Questions people ask

What is the Sanskrit word for fear?

Bhaya (भय). Fear.

Which Bhagavad Gita verse speaks about fear?

Bhagavad Gita 1.29-30: My limbs give way, my mouth is parched, my body trembles and my hair stands on end.

How do the scriptures say to overcome fear?

They set fearlessness, joy and self-knowledge against it. Even a little of this path protects from great fear and brings fearlessness. (Gita 2.40; 16.1) Rama promises safety to the afraid because he carries what they lack. (Valmiki 6.18.33 GP; Gita 9.22; Manas Sundar)

Verses, translations and stories come from the Wisdom library, read with the traditional commentaries. A line marked stated in the text is a link the verse or a named commentator makes; our reading is Wisdom's own reading of the verse.