Chapter 18 · Verse 48

Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender

सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत्।सर्वारम्भा हि दोषेण धूमेनाग्निरिवावृताः

saha-jaṁ karma kaunteya sa-doṣham api na tyajet sarvārambhā hi doṣheṇa dhūmenāgnir ivāvṛitāḥ

Word Meanings

saha-jam — born of one’s nature; karma — duty; kaunteya — Arjun, the son of Kunti; sa-doṣham — with defects; api — even if; na tyajet — one should not abandon; sarva-ārambhāḥ — all endeavors; hi — indeed; doṣheṇa — with evil; dhūmena — with smoke; agniḥ — fire; iva — as; āvṛitāḥ — veiled

Language:

Translation

One should not abandon the duty born of one's nature, O Arjuna, even though it be flawed, for all undertakings are enveloped by imperfection, as fire is veiled by smoke.

Commentary

सहजम् which is born? कर्म action? कौन्तेय O Kaunteya? सदोषम् with fault? अपि even? न not? त्यजेत् (one) should abandon? सर्वारम्भाः all undertakings? हि for? दोषेण by evil? धूमेन by smoke? अग्निः fire? इव like? आवृताः are enveloped.Commentary Sahajam Born with oneself born with the birth of man.Sadosham Faculty for everything is constituted of the three Gunas.All undertakings Ones own as well as others duties.If a Vaisya or a Kshatriya does the duties of a Brahmana he will not in any way be benefited. Anothers duty brings in fear. Therefore it is not proper to perform anothers duty. It is not possible for any man who has no knowledge of the Self to relinish action totally therefore he should not abandon action.