What the scriptures say about doubt

What do the scriptures say about doubt?

The texts call it saṃśaya (संशय). The mind that cannot settle on what is true or what to do. Arjuna asks Krishna to cut it (6.39); the Gita warns what the doubting self loses (4.40). They set self-knowledge, resolve and faith against it.

127 verses
45 stories
Weighs on the mind

Read the verses Find it on the map

Arjuna

एतन्मे संशयं कृष्ण छेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः । त्वदन्यः संशयस्यास्य छेत्ता न ह्युपपद्यते ॥

etanme saṃśayaṃ kṛṣṇa chettumarhasyaśeṣataḥ | tvadanyaḥ saṃśayasyāsya chettā na hyupapadyate ||

Krishna, please cut away this doubt of mine completely. No one but you can remove it.

Bhagavad Gita 6.39

Doubt 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.

Arjuna
चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्दृढम् । तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् ॥
cañcalaṃ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthi balavaddṛḍham | tasyāhaṃ nigrahaṃ manye vāyoriva suduṣkaram ||
For the mind is restless, Krishna, turbulent, powerful and stubborn. I think it is as hard to hold as the wind.
Bhagavad Gita 6.34
Shows doubt that it can be held at all. our reading
Vidura
संसारयति कृत्यानि सर्वत्र विचिकित्सते / चिरं करोति क्षिप्रार्थे स मूढो भरतर्षभ
saṃsārayati kṛtyāni sarvatra vicikitsate / ciraṃ karoti kṣiprārthe sa mūḍho bharatarṣabha
He drags out what needs doing, doubts everything, and is slow where speed is needed: such a person is a fool, best of the Bharatas.
Mahabharata · Udyoga Parva · Vidura Niti
Shows doubting at every step depicts doubt. our reading
Sutikshna
सहित अनुज मोहि राम गोसाईं। मिलिहहिं निज सेवक की नाईं॥ मोरे जियँ भरोस दृढ़ नाहीं। भगति बिरति न ग्यान मन माहीं ॥ नहिं सतसंग जोग जप जागा। नहिं दृढ़ चरन कमल अनुरागा॥ एक बानि करुनानिधान की। सो प्रिय जाकें गति न आन की ॥
sahit anuj mohi rām gosāīṃ| milihahiṃ nij sevak kī nāīṃ|| more jiyaṁ bharos dṛṛh nāhīṃ| bhagati birati na gyān man māhīṃ || nahiṃ satasaṃg jog jap jāgā| nahiṃ dṛṛh caran kamal anurāgā|| ek bāni karunānidhān kī| so priy jākeṃ gati na ān kī ||
'Will Ram, my master, with his brother, meet me as he would his own servant? There is no firm trust in my heart; no devotion, detachment or wisdom in my mind; no good company, no yoga, chanting or sacrifice, no steady love for his lotus feet. But the ocean of compassion has one habit: the one who has no other refuge is dear to him.'
Ramcharitmanas, Aranya Kand 3.7 (chaupai 3)
Shows he is unsure he will be received as Ram's own. our reading
Bharat
तब हनुमंत नाइ पद माथा। कहे सकल रघुपति गुन गाथा॥ कहु कपि कबहुँ कृपाल गोसाईं। सुमिरहिं मोहि दास की नाईं ॥
tab hanumaṃt nāi pad māthā| kahe sakal raghupati gun gāthā|| kahu kapi kabahuṁ kṛpāl gosāīṃ| sumirahiṃ mohi dās kī nāīṃ ||
Then Hanuman bowed at his feet and told all of Raghupati's virtues. 'Tell me, Hanuman: does the kind master ever remember me, as one remembers a servant?'
Ramcharitmanas, Uttar Kand 7.4 (chaupai 8)
Shows him unsure he is thought of at all. our reading
Krishna
व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिरेकेह कुरुनन्दन । बहुशाखा ह्यनन्ताश्च बुद्धयोऽव्यवसायिनाम् ॥
vyavasāyātmikā buddhirekeha kurunandana | bahuśākhā hyanantāśca buddhayo’vyavasāyinām ||
Here, Arjuna, the resolute mind is one-pointed. But the thoughts of the irresolute are many-branched and endless.
Bhagavad Gita 2.41
Names the undecided mind splitting into endless branches. our reading
Krishna
श्रुतिविप्रतिपन्ना ते यदा स्थास्यति निश्चला । समाधावचला बुद्धिस्तदा योगमवाप्स्यसि ॥
śrutivipratipannā te yadā sthāsyati niścalā | samādhāvacalā buddhistadā yogamavāpsyasi ||
When your understanding, now confused by conflicting things you have heard, stands firm and unmoving in deep stillness, then you will attain yoga.
Bhagavad Gita 2.53
Shows a mind pulled this way and that by everything it has heard. our reading
Bhartrihari
तपस्यन्तः सन्तः किमधिनिवसामः सुरनदीं गुणोदारान्दारानुत परिचरामः सविनयम् । पिबामः शास्त्रौघानुत विविधकाव्यामृतरसान् न विद्मः किं कुर्मः कतिपयनिमेषायुषि जने ॥
tapasyantaḥ santaḥ kimadhinivasāmaḥ suranadīṃ guṇodārāndārānuta paricarāmaḥ savinayam | pibāmaḥ śāstraughānuta vividhakāvyāmṛtarasān na vidmaḥ kiṃ kurmaḥ katipayanimeṣāyuṣi jane ||
Shall we live as ascetics beside the heavenly river? Or courteously serve our wives, generous in virtue? Or drink the floods of scripture, or the nectar of many kinds of poetry? We do not know what to do, in a human life that lasts a few blinks.
Bhartrihari · Vairagya Shatakam
Shows unable to choose among good lives. our reading
Manu
जथा दरिद्र बिबुधतरु पाई। बहु संपति मागत सकुचाई॥ तासु प्रभाउ जान नहिं सोई। तथा हृदयँ मम संसय होई ॥
jathā daridra bibudhataru pāī| bahu saṃpati māgat sakucāī|| tāsu prabhāu jān nahiṃ soī| tathā hṛdayaṁ mam saṃsay hoī ||
Like a poor man who finds the wish-fulfilling tree and still hesitates to ask for much, not knowing its power, so doubt rises in my heart.
Ramcharitmanas · Bal Kand
Shows him doubting the giver can mean it. our reading
Arjuna
एतन्मे संशयं कृष्ण छेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः । त्वदन्यः संशयस्यास्य छेत्ता न ह्युपपद्यते ॥
etanme saṃśayaṃ kṛṣṇa chettumarhasyaśeṣataḥ | tvadanyaḥ saṃśayasyāsya chettā na hyupapadyate ||
Krishna, please cut away this doubt of mine completely. No one but you can remove it.
Bhagavad Gita 6.39
Angiras
भिद्यते हृदयग्रन्थिश्छिद्यन्ते सर्वसंशयाः । क्षीयन्ते चास्य कर्माणि तस्मिन् दृष्टे परावरे ॥
bhidyate hṛdayagranthiśchidyante sarvasaṃśayāḥ | kṣīyante cāsya karmāṇi tasmin dṛṣṭe parāvare ||
The knot of the heart is cut, all doubts are dispelled and one's deeds wear away, when that which is both high and low is seen.
Mundaka Upanishad 2.2.8

What feeds it, step by step

Sequences the texts state outright, in their own order.

What happens to one who tried and slipped

Bhagavad Gita 6.37-45; Bhagavad Gita 2.40

Doubt
Faith
practice
success

Arjuna fears that one who has trust but falls short is lost from both worlds like a torn cloud. Krishna says that no one who does good comes to a bad end. What was gained is picked up again. It carries one forward. The one who keeps at it arrives. In this path no beginning is wasted.

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
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
Arjuna
एतन्मे संशयं कृष्ण छेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः । त्वदन्यः संशयस्यास्य छेत्ता न ह्युपपद्यते ॥
etanme saṃśayaṃ kṛṣṇa chettumarhasyaśeṣataḥ | tvadanyaḥ saṃśayasyāsya chettā na hyupapadyate ||
Krishna, please cut away this doubt of mine completely. No one but you can remove it.
Bhagavad Gita 6.39

No discernment without good company

Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 3; Uttar Kand 61

good company
Discernment
Doubt

Without good company there is no discernment, and that company comes by grace. Doubts do not end in a passing talk, and they clear with long time among the good.

Tulsidas
बिनु सतसंग बिबेक न होई। राम कृपा बिनु सुलभ न सोई॥ सतसंगत मुद मंगल मूला। सोई फल सिधि सब साधन फूला ॥
binu satasaṃg bibek na hoī| rām kṛpā binu sulabh na soī|| satasaṃgat mud maṃgal mūlā| soī phal sidhi sab sādhan phūlā ||
Without good company there is no clear judgement, and by Ram's grace alone such company comes easily. Good company is the root of joy and well-being; finding it is the fruit, and every other practice is only the flower.
Ramcharitmanas · Bal Kand
Tulsidas
सठ सुधरहिं सतसंगति पाई। पारस परस कुधात सुहाई॥ बिधि बस सुजन कुसंगत परहीं। फनि मनि सम निज गुन अनुसरहीं ॥
saṭh sudharahiṃ satasaṃgati pāī| pāras paras kudhāt suhāī|| bidhi bas sujan kusaṃgat parahīṃ| phani mani sam nij gun anusarahīṃ ||
Even the crooked improve in good company, the way base metal turns to gold at the touch of the philosopher's stone. And if by chance good people fall among bad company, they keep their own nature, like the jewel in a cobra's hood that never takes on its poison.
Ramcharitmanas · Bal Kand
Shiva
मिलेहु गरुड़ मारग महँ मोही। कवन भाँति समुझावौं तोही॥ तबहिं होइ सब संसय भंगा। जब बहु काल करिअ सतसंगा ॥
milehu garuṛ mārag mahaṁ mohī| kavan bhāṁti samujhāvauṃ tohī|| tabahiṃ hoi sab saṃsay bhaṃgā| jab bahu kāl karia satasaṃgā ||
You met me on the road; how can I explain it to you in passing? All doubts end only when one spends a long time in good company.
Ramcharitmanas · Uttar Kand

The doubting self

Bhagavad Gita 4.40; Bhagavad Gita 4.41-42

ignorance
Doubt
destruction
knowledge
Resolve

Without knowledge and without trust, the self full of doubt is lost and there is no happiness here or hereafter. Then cut the doubt in the heart with the sword of knowledge, take your stand in yoga, and rise.

Krishna
योगसंन्यस्तकर्माणं ज्ञानसंछिन्नसंशयम् । आत्मवन्तं न कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय ॥
yogasaṃnyastakarmāṇaṃ jñānasaṃchinnasaṃśayam | ātmavantaṃ na karmāṇi nibadhnanti dhanañjaya ||
Actions do not bind one who has renounced action through yoga, whose doubts are cut away by knowledge, and who is self-possessed, Dhananjaya.
Bhagavad Gita 4.41
Krishna
तस्मादज्ञानसंभूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनाऽऽत्मनः । छित्त्वैनं संशयं योगमातिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भारत ॥
tasmādajñānasaṃbhūtaṃ hṛtsthaṃ jñānāsinā’’tmanaḥ | chittvainaṃ saṃśayaṃ yogamātiṣṭhottiṣṭha bhārata ||
Therefore, cutting with the sword of knowledge this doubt in your heart born of ignorance, take refuge in yoga, and stand up, Bharata.
Bhagavad Gita 4.42

Six who are always unhappy

Mahabharata, Udyoga Parva 33

The envious, the scornful, the discontented, the quick to anger, the ever suspicious, and the one who lives on another's fortune are always in sorrow.

Vidura
ईर्षुर्धृणी नसन्तुष्टः क्रोधनो नित्यशङ्कितः / परभाग्योपजीवी च षडेते नित्यदुःखिताः
īrṣurdhṛṇī nasantuṣṭaḥ krodhano nityaśaṅkitaḥ / parabhāgyopajīvī ca ṣaḍete nityaduḥkhitāḥ
The envious, the scornful, the discontented, the short-tempered, the ever-suspicious, and one who lives off another's fortune: these six are always unhappy.
Mahabharata · Udyoga Parva · Vidura Niti

What heals it

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

Faithśraddhā
Trust is what the Gita sets against the doubting self. stated in the text
Gita 4.39; 6.40
Knowledgejnana
Understanding cuts doubt so you can stand up. stated in the text
Gita 4.41-42
Good companysatsanga
When unsure, see how the thoughtful and gentle act. stated in the text
Manas Uttar 61; Taittiriya 1.11
Resolvesaṅkalpa
Reflect fully, then decide and begin. stated in the text
Gita 2.41; 18.63; Vidura 33

Krishna
श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः । ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिमचिरेणाधिगच्छति ॥
śraddhāvāṁllabhate jñānaṃ tatparaḥ saṃyatendriyaḥ | jñānaṃ labdhvā parāṃ śāntimacireṇādhigacchati ||
The person of faith, devoted to it and with senses controlled, gains knowledge. Having gained knowledge, he soon reaches supreme peace.
Bhagavad Gita 4.39
Names faith and steady application as what carries one through to understanding. our reading
Vidura
निश्चित्य यः प्रक्रमते नान्तर्वसति कर्मणः / अवन्ध्यकालो वश्यात्मा स वै पण्डित उच्यते
niścitya yaḥ prakramate nāntarvasati karmaṇaḥ / avandhyakālo vaśyātmā sa vai paṇḍita ucyate
One who begins only after deciding, does not stop halfway through the work, does not waste time and keeps himself in hand, is called wise.
Mahabharata · Udyoga Parva · Vidura Niti
Decides first, then moves. our reading
Shiva
मिलेहु गरुड़ मारग महँ मोही। कवन भाँति समुझावौं तोही॥ तबहिं होइ सब संसय भंगा। जब बहु काल करिअ सतसंगा ॥
milehu garuṛ mārag mahaṁ mohī| kavan bhāṁti samujhāvauṃ tohī|| tabahiṃ hoi sab saṃsay bhaṃgā| jab bahu kāl karia satasaṃgā ||
You met me on the road; how can I explain it to you in passing? All doubts end only when one spends a long time in good company.
Ramcharitmanas · Uttar Kand
Teacher
अथ यदि ते कर्मविचिकित्सा वा वृत्तविचिकित्सा वा स्यात् ॥ ये तत्र ब्राह्मणाः संमर्शिनः । युक्ता आयुक्ताः । अलूक्षा धर्मकामाः स्युः । यथा ते तत्र वर्तेरन् । तथा तत्र वर्तेथाः । अथाभ्याख्यातेषु । ये तत्र ब्राह्मणाः संमर्शिनः । युक्ता आयुक्ताः । अलूक्षा धर्मकामाः स्युः । यथा ते तेषु वर्तेरन् । तथा तेषु वर्तेथाः । एष आदेशः । एष उपदेशः ।
atha yadi te karmavicikitsā vā vṛttavicikitsā vā syāt || ye tatra brāhmaṇāḥ saṃmarśinaḥ | yuktā āyuktāḥ | alūkṣā dharmakāmāḥ syuḥ | yathā te tatra varteran | tathā tatra vartethāḥ | athābhyākhyāteṣu | ye tatra brāhmaṇāḥ saṃmarśinaḥ | yuktā āyuktāḥ | alūkṣā dharmakāmāḥ syuḥ | yathā te teṣu varteran | tathā teṣu vartethāḥ | eṣa ādeśaḥ | eṣa upadeśaḥ |
Now, if you are ever unsure about an action or about conduct, look to the thoughtful people there: devoted, independent, not harsh, lovers of what is right. As they would act, so should you act. And towards people under accusation, act as such people would. This is the instruction, this is the teaching.
Taittiriya Upanishad 1.11.3-4
Heals doubt by testing what fair people would do. our reading
Ashtavakra
मा सङ्कल्पविकल्पाभ्यां चित्तं क्षोभय चिन्मय । उपशाम्य सुखं तिष्ठ स्वात्मन्यानन्दविग्रहे ॥
mā saṅkalpavikalpābhyāṃ cittaṃ kṣobhaya cinmaya | upaśāmya sukhaṃ tiṣṭha svātmanyānandavigrahe ||
Do not stir your mind with yes and no, with plans and doubts. Be still, and rest happily in your own joyful Self.
Ashtavakra Gita 15.19
Shows the churn of yes and no. our reading
Krishna
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् । स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥
śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt | svabhāvaniyataṃ karma kurvannāpnoti kilbiṣam ||
Better is one's own duty, though imperfect, than the duty of another well performed. Doing the work born of one's own nature, one incurs no wrong.
Bhagavad Gita 18.47
Settles doubt about trading one's own work for a more admired one. our reading
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
Shows answers to worry an unfinished effort is wasted. our reading
Bhartrihari
दुर्जनः परिहर्तव्यो विद्ययालङ्कृतोऽपि सन् । मणिना भूषितः सर्पः किमसौ न भयङ्करः ॥
durjanaḥ parihartavyo vidyayālaṅkṛto’pi san | maṇinā bhūṣitaḥ sarpaḥ kimasau na bhayaṅkaraḥ ||
A wicked person should be avoided, even if adorned with learning. Is a snake any less frightening because it wears a jewel?
Bhartrihari · Niti Shatakam
Settles the doubt 'but they are so accomplished'. our reading

Practices that grow faith and resolve

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

Krishna
नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः । शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः ॥
niyataṃ kuru karma tvaṃ karma jyāyo hyakarmaṇaḥ | śarīrayātrāpi ca te na prasiddhyedakarmaṇaḥ ||
Do your allotted work, for action is better than inaction. Even the maintenance of your body would not be possible without action.
Bhagavad Gita 3.8
Shows settles the question of whether to act at all. our reading
Krishna
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया । उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥
tadviddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā | upadekṣyanti te jñānaṃ jñāninastattvadarśinaḥ ||
Learn it by bowing down, by questioning, and by service. Those who are wise and have seen the truth will teach you that knowledge.
Bhagavad Gita 4.34
Shows humility before a teacher who has seen the truth. our reading
Krishna
उद्धरेदात्मनाऽऽत्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् । आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः ॥
uddharedātmanā’’tmānaṃ nātmānamavasādayet | ātmaiva hyātmano bandhurātmaiva ripurātmanaḥ ||
Raise yourself by your own self; do not let yourself sink. For the self alone is the friend of the self, and the self alone is the enemy of the self.
Bhagavad Gita 6.5
Shows the decision to be on one's own side. our reading
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
Holding to what was begun. 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
Urged toward right action. 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
Trust is cultivated in two syllables. 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
Shows he is parent to all. our reading
Dharmavyadha (the righteous meat-seller)
विकर्मणा तप्यमानः पापाद्विपरिमुच्यते / न तत्कुर्यां पुनरिति द्वितीयात्परिमुच्यते
vikarmaṇā tapyamānaḥ pāpādviparimucyate / na tatkuryāṃ punariti dvitīyātparimucyate
One who feels remorse for a wrong deed is freed from that wrong; by resolving 'I will not do it again', he is freed from the second.
Mahabharata · Vana Parva · Vyadha Gita
Shows the vow 'not again' is the second release. our reading

People who lived it

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

From the Gita
Mastering the mind
Arjuna says the mind is restless, stormy and stubborn. Krishna agrees, and says practice and letting go can train it.
The mind is hard to hold, but practice and letting go train it.
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 Gita
The glory of the Gita
Krishna asks if Arjuna's confusion is gone; Arjuna says yes and that he will act. Sanjaya rejoices and declares that where Krishna and Arjuna stand, victory follows.
Clarity, once found, turns into action.
From the Gita
Action with devotion: surrender
Krishna urges Arjuna to offer all action, warns that ego will only trip him, tells him to reflect fully and then choose, and finally to take refuge in him alone and not grieve.
Reflect fully, choose freely, and set down the fear.

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 doubt on the whole map

Questions people ask

What is the Sanskrit word for doubt?

Saṃśaya (संशय). Doubt, indecision.

Which Bhagavad Gita verse speaks about doubt?

Bhagavad Gita 6.39: Krishna, please cut away this doubt of mine completely. No one but you can remove it.

How do the scriptures say to overcome doubt?

They set self-knowledge, resolve and faith against it. Trust is what the Gita sets against the doubting self. (Gita 4.39; 6.40) Understanding cuts doubt so you can stand up. (Gita 4.41-42)

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.