Krishna said: O Partha, there is no destruction for him either here or hereafter. No one who does good ever comes to a bad end, my dear.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 6.40
Hindi · हिन्दी
श्रीभगवान् बोले हे पृथानन्दन उसका न तो इस लोकमें और न परलोकमें ही विनाश होता है क्योंकि हे प्यारे कल्याणकारी काम करनेवाला कोई भी मनुष्य दुर्गतिको प्राप्त नहीं जाता ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
श्री भगवानुवाचthe Blessed One saidपार्थO Parthaनैवnot at allइहhereनnotअमुत्रin the other worldविनाशःdestructionतस्यof himविद्यतेthere isनहिindeed notकल्याणकृत्one who does goodकश्चित्anyoneदुर्गतिम्bad endतातmy dearगच्छतिgoes
Read literallythe Blessed One said · O Partha · not at all · here · not · in the other world · destruction · of him · there is · indeed not · one who does good · anyone · bad end · my dear · goes
Understanding the verse
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Krishna answers Arjuna's fear with a promise: one who does good never comes to a bad end.
A person who does good practice does not lose everything. Even if progress feels interrupted, that effort is never destroyed and never leads to a bad end.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Arjuna asked what happens to someone who starts yoga but falls short. Krishna answers that even the one who fails on this path is not destroyed. A sincere step toward the good cannot end in loss.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A man in his fifties starts walking each morning after a heart scare, then misses three weeks during his daughter's exams. Krishna's promise applies to him: the good he began still counts, and he can start again tomorrow.
The takeaway
“You can keep going without fear that honest effort will be wasted.”
A person who does good practice does not lose everything. Even if progress feels interrupted, that effort is never destroyed and never leads to a bad end.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 6.40?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Dhyana Yoga" (The Yoga of Meditation).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 6.40?
Verse 40 sits in Chapter 6 of the Bhagavad Gita — Dhyana Yoga, "The Yoga of Meditation". The chapter has 47 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 6.40 matter today?
A man in his fifties starts walking each morning after a heart scare, then misses three weeks during his daughter's exams. Krishna's promise applies to him: the good he began still counts, and he can start again tomorrow.
Krishna answers Arjuna's fear with a promise: one who does good never comes to a bad end.
What this verse means
A person who does good practice does not lose everything. Even if progress feels interrupted, that effort is never destroyed and never leads to a bad end.
Context & commentary
Arjuna asked what happens to someone who starts yoga but falls short. Krishna answers that even the one who fails on this path is not destroyed. A sincere step toward the good cannot end in loss.
What it looks like today
A man in his fifties starts walking each morning after a heart scare, then misses three weeks during his daughter's exams. Krishna's promise applies to him: the good he began still counts, and he can start again tomorrow.
“You can keep going without fear that honest effort will be wasted.”
Explore related themes: dhyana yoga (13 verses)