Word meanings
- na
- not
- iha
- in this
- abhikrama
- efforts
- nāśaḥ
- loss
- asti
- there is
- pratyavāyaḥ
- adverse result
- na
- not
- vidyate
- is
- su-alpam
- a little
- api
- even
- asya
- of this
- dharmasya
- occupation
- trāyate
- saves
- mahataḥ
- from great
- bhayāt
- danger
Translations
In this, there is no loss of effort, nor is there any harm produced, nor any transgression. Even a little of this knowledge protects one from great fear.
On this path, endeavour is never wasted nor repressed. Even a little practice of it protects one from great danger.
Here, there is no waste of effort; nor is there any harm. Even a little of this righteousness saves one from great fear.
मनुष्यलोकमें इस समबुद्धिरूप धर्मके आरम्भका नाश नहीं होता, इसके अनुष्ठानका उलटा फल भी नहीं होता और इसका थोड़ासा भी अनुष्ठान (जन्म-मरणरूप) महान् भयसे रक्षा कर लेता है।Commentary
If a religious ceremony is left uncompleted, it is a wastage as the performer cannot realise the fruits. But it is not so in the case of Karma Yoga because every action causes immediate purification of the heart. In agriculture there is uncertainty. The farmer may till the land, plough and sow the seed but he may not get a crop if there is no rain. This is not so in Karma Yoga. There is no uncertainty at all. Further, there is no chance of any harm coming out of it. In the case of medical treatment great harm will result from the doctors injudicious treatment if he uses a wrong medicine.
But it is not so in the case of Karma Yoga. Anything done, however little it may be, in this path of Yoga, the Yoga of action, saves one from great fear of being caught in the wheel of birth and death. Lord Krishna here extols Karma Yoga in order to create interest in Arjuna in this Yoga.