Bhagavad Gita
2.40

नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते | स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् ||४०||

nehābhikrama-nāśho'sti pratyavāyo na vidyate sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt

Translation

In this path, there is no loss of effort, nor is there any harm. Even a little of this righteousness saves one from great fear.

Interpretation

The yoga path is unlike material pursuits: in the material world, effort can be wasted and there can be setbacks. But any sincere spiritual effort is never lost — it accumulates across lifetimes. Even a small amount of practice (sv-alpam) protects the practitioner from the great fear of repeated birth and death.