Bhagwad Gita - Post 80

Verse 40

Sri Bhagawan Uvaacha:

Paartha naiveha  naamutra

Vinaashas tasya vidyate;

Nahi kalyaanakrit kashchid

Durgatim taata gacchati.

The Blessed Lord said:

O Arjuna, neither in this world, nor in the next world is there destruction for him; none, verily, who does good, O My dear one, ever comes to grief.

Sri Chinmaya’s words of pure wisdom comes handy to explain this verse.

“At the very opening of this section, Krishna assures, with all emphasis at His command - "Neither here nor in the hereafter, is there any destruction for him, who performs right action."

The present is the product of the past, and thought by thought, action by action, knowledge by knowledge, we are creating for ourselves in the present the blue-print of our future.

Therefore, the Hindus believe in previous lives as well as in future births for all embodied souls; this is otherwise called the theory of re-incarnation. Based upon this principle, Krishna insists that no seeker is ever lost, although he may slip and fall, or even end his present manifestation; tomorrow is but today modified, but directly continued.

In addressing Arjuna as "O MY SON," Krishna has here not only followed the traditional practice of the Upanishads, but there is also a deeper significance.

However deceitful, cunning and cruel a brute one might be to everyone else in the world, one cannot ever come to advise a false philosophy to his own son. With fatherly love, Krishna is assuring Arjuna that one who is striving in the direction of evolution shall never come to suffer any real  fall. On the ladder of cultural growth, each step that is placed forward is an ascent towards the Absolute Perfection.”

Dear All,

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. 

Sri 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 either. In fact, by sincerely practicing mediation, the seeker will be in tune and in harmony with the world. 

Remember Sai's words of assurance - "If your thoughts / intentions are pure and noble, then Anugraha will pour in from all Navagrahas".

In essence, yoga of meditation is aligned with the good karmas done with Shraddha by the aspirant, in this verse.

Thus, though, in the present birth, he may not attain liberation, still, his faith and his sadhana , his quietened / equipoised / tranquil / steady mind  is sure to make him engaged in  good karmas  in the present birth and the result of such good karmas may not  lead him to distress in the future birth(s) as well.

And, still, due to accumulation of some past karmas, even  if some misery strikes such a sincere aspirant, as mentioned above, "He will not care whether he attains material success or not. So therefore, a lack of material success or at worst, even utter failures in life (to clear the prarabdha of past lives)  will not cause him distress."

Love.