नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते ।स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् ॥
nehābhikramanāśo'sti pratyavāyo na vidyate |svalpamapyasya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt ||
On this path, no effort is ever wasted, and no harm arises from it. Even a little of this dharma protects one from great fear.
Explanation
Krishna is speaking to Arjuna, having just introduced the discipline of action done with steady understanding (buddhi-yoga). Here he reassures him: on this path there is no loss of an effort once begun (abhikrama-nāśa), and no adverse result (pratyavāya). Even a small practice of this dharma (duty, right way of living) protects from great fear. Commentators differ on what the "great fear" is: many take it as the cycle of birth and death, others as the fear of sin or of failing in one's duty.