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Verse 4.40

Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit

अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति। नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः।।

Transliteration (IAST)

ajñaś cāśraddadhānaś ca saṁśayātmā vinaśyati nāyaṁ loko 'sti na paro na sukhaṁ saṁśayātmanaḥ

Word-by-Word Meanings

ajñaḥ-the ignorant
aśraddadhānaḥ-without faith
saṁśayātmā-the doubting soul
vinaśyati-perishes/falls
sukham-happiness
na-not

Translation

But ignorant and faithless persons who doubt the revealed scriptures do not attain God consciousness; they fall down. For the doubting soul there is happiness neither in this world nor in the next.

Commentary

Krishna warns against the destructive power of chronic doubt (saṁśaya). While healthy inquiry is encouraged (as in verse 4.34), paralyzing doubt that prevents commitment destroys both worldly and spiritual happiness. The doubting soul finds peace nowhere because it cannot commit to any path.

Themes

jnanadharmakarma

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