Attempting with all his might to do a virtuous act, if a man does not accomplish it, he gets the religious merit of having done the act. About that I have no doubt.
धर्मकार्यं यतञ्छक्त्या नो चेत् प्राप्नोति मानवः। प्राप्तो भवति तत् पुण्यमत्र मे नास्ति संशयः॥