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Chapter 4 · Transcendental Knowledge · 42 verses

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Soul & knowledgeChapter 4 · Transcendental Knowledge
4.394.41

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 4.40

Spiritual master, knowledge and removal of doubt

अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति ।

नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः ॥ ४० ॥

ajñaś cāśraddadhānaś ca

saṁśayātmā vinaśyati

nāyaṁ loko ’sti na paro

na sukhaṁ saṁśayātmanaḥ

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.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Faith in Scripture and Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1Those who doubt revealed scriptures and lack faith do not attain God consciousness and find happiness neither in this world nor the next.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that knowing scripture is not enough: one must have faith in its words and believe in and worship Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
  3. 3Follow scriptural principles with faith and follow the great teachers in disciplic succession to gain spiritual understanding and success.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 4, Transcendental Knowledge: spiritual master, knowledge and removal of doubt.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Discern the eternal self from the temporary.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: ātmā, jñāna.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 4.40 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to soul & knowledge?

Practice

Spend five minutes reflecting on what in you does not change.

4

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 4.34The humility of real inquiryBG 4.35Spiritual master, knowledge and removal of doubtBG 2.13The self endures bodily changeBG 15.7The living being belongs to Krishna

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.