Topic

Spiritual doubt

2 verses from the Bhagavad Gita on spiritual doubt. Explore teachings across 1 chapter.

All Verses

Chapter 6 • Verse 38 →The Yoga of Meditation
Kaccin nobhaya-vibhrashtash chinnabhram iva nashyati, apratishthho maha-baho vimudho brahmanah pathi

Does such a person, fallen from both worldly and spiritual paths, not perish like a torn cloud, without support, confused on the path to Brahman? Arjuna expresses the fear of being caught between two worlds — neither fully engaged in the world nor having reached liberation.

  • •The fear of being between paths is a genuine human spiritual concern
  • •A torn cloud is a perfect metaphor for a half-formed spiritual life
  • •This question leads Krishna to give one of the Gita's most compassionate answers
fallen yogiboth pathstorn cloudfear of failure
Chapter 6 • Verse 39 →The Yoga of Meditation
Etan me samsayam krishna chettum arhasy asheshatah, tvad-anyah samsayasyasya chetta na hy upapadyate

Only You, O Krishna, are capable of completely resolving this doubt of mine; no one else is fit to dispel this doubt. Arjuna's complete reliance on Krishna for the dispelling of spiritual doubt is a model of the surrender that enables genuine teaching to occur.

  • •The guru is the only one who can truly resolve deep spiritual doubts
  • •Complete surrender to the teacher opens the channel of wisdom
  • •Acknowledging one's uncertainty is a sign of readiness to learn
gurusurrenderreliance on Krishnateachable moment