Dhyana Yoga · Verse 37

Bhagavad Gita 6.37

Faith without completion still deserves a clear answer.

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

अर्जुन उवाचअयतिः श्रद्धयोपेतो योगाच्चलितमानसः ।
अप्राप्य योगसंसिद्धिं कां गतिं कृष्ण गच्छति ॥
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 ॥
English
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?

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.

The takeaway

It speaks to the fear of starting well and not finishing cleanly.

Word-by-word translation

अर्जुन उवाच (Arjuna said) / अयतिः (one without steady effort) / श्रद्धयोपेतः (endowed with faith) / योगात् (from yoga) / चलितमानसः (with a mind turned away) / अप्राप्य (without attaining) / योगसंसिद्धिम् (perfection in yoga) / कां गतिम् (what state) / कृष्ण (O Krishna) / गच्छति (does he go)

Explore related themes: shraddha (34 verses), dhyana yoga (13 verses)

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