Bhagavad Gita Verse 40, Chapter 6

Shree Bhagavaan uvaacha:
paartha naiveha naamutra vinaashastasya vidyate |
na hi kalyaanakritkashchiddurgatim taata gachchati || 40 ||
 
Shree Bhagavan says:
O Paartha, neither here nor there does his destruction ever happen, for whoever performs virtuous acts does not go into distress, my dear.
 
paartha : O Paartha
na : neither
iha : here
eva : ever
na : nor
amutra : there
vinaashaha : destruction
tasya : his
vidyate : happen
na : does not
hi : for
kalyaanakrit : performs virtuous acts
kashchit : whoever
durgatim : distress
taata : my dear
gachchati : go to
 
Arjuna had posed a question about the fate of a meditator who does not attain perfection before death. Shri Krishna responds by unequivocally asserting that nothing harmful or distressful will happen to the meditator while he is in this world, or in any other world. In fact, he will attain a better state, both from a material as well as spiritual standpoint.
 
We have to carefully parse the meaning of Shri Krishna’s words. He is in no way implying that the meditator will somehow attain material success due to his meditation. The common standard for attaining success in our world is wealth, power and fame, none of which is guaranteed as a result of meditation. Shri Krishna wants us to understand is that one who takes up meditation sincerely will automatically develop dispassion towards wealth, power and fame. He will not care whether he attains material success or not. So therefore, a lack of material success will not cause him distress.
 
But that does not mean that the meditator obtains a pitiable state. In fact, by sincerely practicing mediation, the seeker will be in tune and in harmony with the world. Then the world itself will take care of all the seeker’s needs. This is not an alien concept. When someone is in tune with any organization like one’s family, workplace or school, when that person puts the needs of the organization above his personal and selfish needs, the organization ensures that such a person receives whatever he wants, and also ensures that he does not get into any distress.
 
Here, Shri Krishna affectionately refers to Arjuna as “taata”. Usually this word refers to a father or a son. Here, the meaning is in line with the word “dear student”. By using this word, Shri Krishna shows his encouragement and appreciation for the frank and honest question posed by Arjuna.
 
Next, Shri Krishna addresses the second part of Arjuna’s question, which is : what happens to the meditator when he dies before gaining perfection in meditation?

Bhagavad Gita Verse 37, Chapter 6

Arjuna uvaacha:
ayatihi shraddhayopeto yogaachchalitamaanasaha |
apraapya yogasamsiddhim kaam gatim krishna gachchati || 37 ||
 
Arjuna said:
The unsuccessful seeker, endowed with faith, whose mind deviates from yoga, and has not attained perfection in yoga, what is his situation, O Krishna?
 
ayatihi : unsuccessful seeker
shraddhaa : faith
upetaha : endowed with
yogaat : yoga
chalitamaanasaha : deviates mind
apraapya : not obtained
yogasamsiddhim : perfection in yoga
kaam : what
gatim : situation
krishna : O Krishna
gachchati : attain
 
Arjuna’s first question around the difficulty of controlling the mind was resolved by Shri Krishna. Now Arjuna asked another question: what happens when a seeker is striving to meditate faithfully and diligently, but is unable to reach the state of the perfected meditator in his lifetime?
 
Attaining perfection in meditation is a long and arduous journey. Most seekers start on the spiritual path only after they have established themselves in their careers, which is a late start. Once they have begin, purification of the mind through karma yoga takes time. Hearing and reflection on the scriptures takes still more time. All in all, even if a seeker is sincere, it is going to take a long time to attain the goal of meditation.
 
Taking this into account, Arjuna formulates his question to Shri Krishna. He gives an example of a seeker who has managed to purify his mind to a great extent, but still has a small amount of desire left. This seeker may have comprehended that his true nature is the eternal essence, but is not able to remain established in that state. So the question is : what happens to such an “almost perfect” seeker?
 
The honest nature of this question shows to us the candid and open relationship between Arjuna and Shri Krishna. In effect, he is asking his teacher whether or not it is worth pursuing the spiritual path. It is a pragmatic question that many of us fear or fail to ask before pursuing undertakings in the material world, let alone in the spiritual path.
 
Arjuna further expands upon this question in the next shloka.