Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2/Verse 40

नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते ।
स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् ॥२- ४०॥

nehābhikramanāśo'sti pratyavāyo na vidyate ।
svalpamapyasya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt ॥2- 40॥

Nothing here is lost with an undertaking. No obstacle is found. Even a little of this dharma rescues one from great fear.  


Word-for-word translations

na (adverb) (indeclinable) = not 

iha (adverb) (indeclinable) = here

abhikramanāśas (abhikrama + nāśas) (compound) (masculine, nominative, singular) = lost with an undertaking 

asti (present tense, 3rd person, singular) = is 

pratyavāyas (masculine, nominative, singular) = obstacle

na (adverb) (indeclinable) = not 

vidyate (passive, present tense, 3rd person, singular) = is found

svalpam (adjective) (accusative, singular) = little

api (adverb) (indeclinable) = even 

asya (pronoun, genitive, singular) = of this 

dharmasya (masculine, genitive, singular) = of dharma

trāyate (passive, 3rd peson, singular) = it rescues 

mahatas (adjective) (neuter, ablative, singular) = from great 

bhayāt (neuter, ablative, singular) = from fear 


Commentary

Once again, the use of the word "dharma" in this verse is rich with meaning, so it is best to leave it untranslated given an English translation would not do it justice. But this verse conveys the meaning that if one pursues one's purpose, just a little, one can be rescued from great fear.