What this hexagram is about
Thunder upon the mountain — the image of slight excess. In extraordinary times one may go a little too far in small things — too humble, too thrifty — but it befits the small, not the great; one must not overreach in great affairs.
The Judgment 卦辞
小过，亨，利贞。可小事，不可大事。飞鸟遗之音，不宜上宜下，大吉。
Success. Favorable to persevere. Small things may be done; great things may not. The flying bird leaves its call: it should not rise but descend. Great good fortune.
The Image 大象传
《象》曰：山上有雷，小过；君子以行过乎恭，丧过乎哀，用过乎俭。
Thunder upon the mountain, a slight exceeding; so the noble person is rather over-respectful in conduct, over-grieved in mourning, over-frugal in spending.
Commentary on the Lines 小象传
飞鸟以凶，不可如何也。
The flying bird brings misfortune — and nothing can be done about it.
The Six Lines (hover over the figure above)
Nine at the top弗遇过之，飞鸟离之，凶，是谓灾眚。
Unwilling to meet and join, one passes beyond and above instead — overreaching at the topmost, acting rashly — like a bird loosed from the string and shot down; misfortune — this is what is called calamity brought on oneself.
Six in the fifth place密云不雨，自我西郊，公弋取彼在穴。
Dense clouds, yet no rain, drifting up from my western fields — kindness ready to fall but not yet come; the duke, with corded arrow, takes the quarry hidden in its den — reaching what is concealed, seeking it through humility.
Six in the fourth place无咎，弗过遇之，往厉必戒，勿用永贞。
There is no fault; without forcing things a hair too far, one happens to meet and join just right; yet to go forward holds danger and one must be wary — it will not do to cling stubbornly to the usual course.
Six in the third place弗过防之，从或戕之，凶。
Unwilling to be even a little extra in one's guard and precaution, one lets things slide and may come to harm at another's hand — misfortune.
Six in the second place过其祖，遇其妣，不及其君，遇其臣，无咎。
One passes by the grandfather and meets the grandmother instead; without usurping the prince's place, one rests just rightly in the servant's — a slight excess in conduct that yet keeps its measure — there is no fault.
Initial Nine飞鸟以凶。
Like a bird that flies too high, forcing its way upward — this draws misfortune; the small must not exceed greatly, and should keep below rather than press above.