Chapter 18 · Moksha Sannyasa Yoga - The Yoga of Liberation through RenunciationKrishna
Verse 48
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 18, श्लोक 48
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत्।
सर्वारम्भा हि दोषेण धूमेनाग्निरिवावृताः॥
Transliteration
Sahajam karma Kaunteya sa-dosham-api na tyajet
Sarva-arambha hi doshena dhumena-agnir-iva-avritah
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
सहजम्sahajaminborn
कर्मkarmaduty
कौन्तेयKaunteyaO son of Kunti
सदोषम्sa-doshamwith faults
अपिapieven
न त्यजेत्na tyajetshould not abandon
सर्वारम्भाःsarva-arambhahall undertakings
दोषेणdoshenawith fault
धूमेनdhumenawith smoke
अग्निःagnihfire
आवृताःavritahare covered
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
हे कौन्तेय! सदोष होने पर भी सहज (स्वभावसिद्ध) कर्म नहीं त्यागना चाहिए। क्योंकि जैसे अग्नि धुएँ से ढकी रहती है, वैसे ही सब कर्म किसी-न-किसी दोष से युक्त होते हैं।
English Translation
O Kaunteya, one should not abandon one's inborn duty even though it has faults. For all undertakings are covered with faults, as fire is covered with smoke.
Commentary (टीका)
The fire-smoke metaphor brilliantly captures the impossibility of perfectly pure action in the material world. Just as fire always produces some smoke, every action inevitably has some imperfection. Therefore, abandoning duty because of its defects would mean abandoning all action, which is both impossible and undesirable.