Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga · Verse 40

Bhagavad Gita 4.40

A divided mind loses both peace and direction.

Wisdom translation, edited by Ankur Shukla. Commentary AI-drafted, human-reviewed. Reviewed June 2026. Methodology →

अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति ।
नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
विवेकहीन और श्रद्धारहित संशयात्मा मनुष्यका पतन हो जाता है । ऐसे संशयात्मा मनुष्यके लिये न यह लोक है न परलोक है और न सुख ही है ॥
English
The ignorant and faithless person who doubts is ruined. For the doubter, there is neither this world, nor the next, nor happiness.

What this verse means

A person who lacks clear understanding and trust, and keeps doubting, falls apart. Such a divided mind finds no real happiness here or beyond.

Context & commentary

Krishna is still answering Arjuna on the battlefield, where hesitation can decide everything. After saying knowledge comes through trust and discipline, he warns that a doubting, faithless mind collapses and cannot find peace in any world.

Why this verse still matters

You keep reopening the same message before sending it, afraid of being wrong. The delay is not caution anymore — it is the split mind making you smaller.

The takeaway

You feel the cost of indecision: a mind that won't commit cannot settle anywhere.

Word-by-word translation

अज्ञः (ignorant) / च (and) / अश्रद्दधानः (without trust) / च (and) / संशयात्मा (a doubting inner being) / विनश्यति (is ruined) / न (not) / अयम् (this) / लोकः (world) / अस्ति (exists) / न (not) / परः (other) / न (not) / सुखम् (happiness) / संशयात्मनः (of the doubting inner being)

Explore related themes: shraddha (34 verses), viveka (15 verses), jnana yoga (13 verses)

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