The Yoga of Meditation

Arjuna asks about the fate of a practitioner who fails despite having faith. 'Ayatiḥ śraddhayopeto'—one who (ayatiḥ) does not strive, though (upetaḥ) endowed with faith (śraddhayā). This means: someone who has faith—believes in yoga, believes in the path—but doesn't persevere, doesn't strive earnestly. They have the belief but not the effort. 'Yogāc calita-mānasaḥ'—whose mind (mānasaḥ) has deviated (calita) from yoga (yogāt). This means: the mind has wandered away from yoga practice—it's no longer focused, no longer engaged, has fallen away. 'Aprāpya yoga-saṁsiddhiṁ'—not having attained (aprāpya) the perfection (saṁsiddhim) of yoga (yoga). This means: this person hasn't achieved yoga perfection—they started but didn't complete, had faith but didn't persevere, mind deviated and they failed. 'Kāṁ gatiṁ kṛṣṇa gacchati'—O Krishna (kṛṣṇa), what (kām) destination (gatim) does he go to (gacchati)? This means: Arjuna is asking about the fate of someone who tried but failed—what happens to them? This is a compassionate question—concerned about those who struggle but don't succeed.