Bhagavad Gita 4.40
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 40 of 42
अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति । नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः ॥
ajñaś cāśraddadhānaś ca saṃśayātmā vinaśyati | nāyaṃ loko 'sti na paro na sukhaṃ saṃśayātmanaḥ ||
The ignorant, faithless, doubting self is destroyed — no happiness in this world, the next, or anywhere.
Word by word (3)
- ajñaḥ ca aśraddadhānaḥ ca saṃśaya-ātmā vinaśyati
- — the ignorant, the faithless, the doubting self — all perish · Ajña = the ignorant (a+jña = without knowledge). Ca = and. Aśraddadhāna = one who does not have śraddhā (a+śrad+dhāna = not placing the heart). Saṃśaya-ātmā = the self/person characterized by doubt (saṃśaya = doubt, from sam+śī = wavering; ātmā = self — this is the self whose core character is doubt). Vinaśyati = perishes, is destroyed (vi+naś). The three contrasted with V39's three: ignorance vs. jñāna, faithlessness vs. śraddhā, doubting-self vs. tat-para.
- na ayaṃ lokaḥ asti na paraḥ na sukham saṃśayātmanaḥ
- — for the doubting self — neither this world nor the next, nor happiness · Na ayaṃ lokaḥ = not this world. Na paraḥ = not the other (world beyond). Na sukham = no happiness. Saṃśayātmanaḥ = of the doubting-self (genitive). The triplet of negations: no foothold in this world (present, practical), no foothold in the next world (future, spiritual), and no happiness even in the present moment. Doubt destroys from all three directions.
- saṃśayātmā
- — saṃśayātmā = one whose very self is doubt (saṃśaya = doubt, from sam + śi = to hang/be poised — poised between two possibilities, unable to move; saṃśaya is doubt not as questioning but as paralysis; ātmā = self/being); saṃśayātmā = the doubting self — not merely someone who has doubts but one whose fundamental orientation IS doubt; the compound says the doubt has colonised the ātmā itself; the contrast with śraddhāvān (V39) is total: the one whose self is faith gains jñāna; the one whose self is doubt is destroyed
The ignorant, the faithless, and the doubting self — perish. For the doubting self: not this world, not the next world, not happiness.
A modern analogy
Chronic doubt paralyzes: you cannot commit to a direction, so you take no direction. You cannot trust your analysis, so you make no decision. You cannot trust your practice, so you do not practice. The doubting self (saṃśayātmā) finds no ground anywhere — not in action, not in aspiration, not in the present moment.
Take with you
- Three types who perish: ajña (ignorant), aśraddadhāna (faithless), saṃśayātmā (doubting self). Each one a different failure mode.
- Saṃśayātmā is the most precise: not a person who has doubts (everyone does) but one whose fundamental identity is doubt.
- The triplet of no-ground: no this world, no next world, no happiness — doubt prevents foothold in any dimension.
- This verse contrasts directly with the one before it: śraddhā → jñāna → śānti. Aśraddhā → doubt → no ground anywhere.
Public-domain translations (5) compare all →
But the ignorant man, who has no faith and is full of doubt, goes to destruction. Not this world, not the next, nor happiness, is for the doubting soul. [1]
The ignorant, the faithless, the doubting self goes to destruction. Not this world, nor the world beyond, nor happiness, is for the doubting. [4]
The man who is full of doubts, who has no faith, and is without knowledge, perisheth. Not this world, nor the world beyond, nor happiness, belongs to the doubter. [6]
But he who is faithless, ignorant, given to doubt, Perishes; not this world, not the next, Nor joy for one that doubles. [7]
The man who is ignorant, who is faithless, and whose self is full of doubt perishes. For the doubting self there is neither this world, nor the next, nor happiness. [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
The faithful, devoted, sense-controlled person attains jñāna — and quickly reaches supreme peace.
Cut with jñāna's sword this doubt born of ignorance in your heart. Stand in yoga — arise, O Arjuna!
'I slew that enemy; I'll slay others. I am Lord, Enjoyer, Perfect, Powerful, Happy' — the ego-apotheosis of the āsurī.
Speech tapas: non-disturbing, true, agreeable, beneficial words — plus daily svādhyāya (sacred study).
Tāmasic sukha: deluding of the self both at start and in consequence — arises from sleep, laziness, and carelessness.
You grieve for those who should not be grieved for — and call it wisdom.
Verse 40 of 42 · back to Chapter 4