Arjuna said: What happens to a person who has faith but lacks steady effort, whose mind turns away from yoga before full success is reached, O Krishna?
— Arjuna
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Bhagavad Gita · 6.37
Hindi · हिन्दी
अर्जुन बोले हे कृष्ण जिसकी साधनमें श्रद्धा है, पर जिसका प्रयत्न शिथिल है, वह अन्तसमयमें अगर योगसे विचलितमना हो जाय, तो वह योगसिद्धिको प्राप्त न करके किस गतिको चला जाता है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Hover a word to focus on it.
अर्जुन उवाचArjuna saidअयतिःone without steady effortश्रद्धयोपेतःendowed with faithयोगात्from yogaचलितमानसःwith a mind turned awayअप्राप्यwithout attainingयोगसंसिद्धिम्perfection in yogaकां गतिम्what stateकृष्णO Krishnaगच्छतिdoes he go
Read literallyArjuna said · one without steady effort · endowed with faith · from yoga · with a mind turned away · without attaining · perfection in yoga · what state · O Krishna · does he go
Understanding the verse
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It shifts the mind from judging failure to asking what remains of sincere effort.
Arjuna asks what becomes of someone who begins with faith but loses steadiness before reaching full yogic success.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna has moved from panic to a deeper question about the path itself. After Krishna explains meditation and self-mastery, Arjuna asks about the sincere seeker who slips before completion. The issue is not battle now, but whether unfinished effort is lost.
03
In your life
Why this verse still matters
You start therapy, prayer, or a hard habit change with real hope, then life knocks you sideways. The question is whether a falter erases the sincerity that began the effort.
The takeaway
“It speaks to the fear of starting well and not finishing cleanly.”
Arjuna asks what becomes of someone who begins with faith but loses steadiness before reaching full yogic success.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 6.37?
Arjuna 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 6.37?
Verse 37 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 6.37 matter today?
You start therapy, prayer, or a hard habit change with real hope, then life knocks you sideways. The question is whether a falter erases the sincerity that began the effort.
It shifts the mind from judging failure to asking what remains of sincere effort.
What this verse means
Arjuna asks what becomes of someone who begins with faith but loses steadiness before reaching full yogic success.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna has moved from panic to a deeper question about the path itself. After Krishna explains meditation and self-mastery, Arjuna asks about the sincere seeker who slips before completion. The issue is not battle now, but whether unfinished effort is lost.
Why this verse still matters
You start therapy, prayer, or a hard habit change with real hope, then life knocks you sideways. The question is whether a falter erases the sincerity that began the effort.
“It speaks to the fear of starting well and not finishing cleanly.”
Explore related themes: shraddha (34 verses), dhyana yoga (13 verses)