Bhagavad Gita BG 18.48
Chapter 18, Verse 48 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत् । सर्वारम्भा हि दोषेण धूमेनाग्निरिवावृताः ॥
sahajam karma kaunteya sadosham api na tyajet sarvarambha hi dosena dhumenaagnir ivavrtah
Meaning
One should not abandon the duty born of one's nature, O Kaunteya, even if it has defects — all undertakings are covered by some defect as fire by smoke.
Understanding
A crucial practical teaching about svadharma: sahajam karma (innate/natural duty — sahaja means 'born together with,' one's own natural function). Sadosham api na tyajet (even if it has defects, one should not abandon it). The reason: sarvArambhA hi dosena avrtah (all undertakings are covered by some defect — dhumenA agnih iva, as fire is covered by smoke). No action in the world is perfectly pure; every action has some limitation, some imperfection, some mixed quality. The fire analogy: smoke comes with fire — but you don't abandon fire because of smoke; you use the fire for its warmth and light. Similarly, work through the defects of svadharma rather than abandoning it.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| सहजम् | sahajam | innate, natural, born together with one (sahaja = co-born) |
| सदोषम् | sadosham | even though having defects, with faults |
| त्यजेत् | tyajet | should abandon, should give up |
| धूमेन | dhumena | by smoke |
| आवृताः | avrtah | covered, enveloped, veiled |
| कर्म | karma | duty |
| कौन्तेय | kaunteya | O son of Kunti |
| स-दोषम् | sa-doṣam api | even though defective |
| न | na tyajet | should not be abandoned |
| सर्व-आरम्भाः | sarva-ārambhāḥ | all undertakings |
| हि | hi | indeed |
| दोषेण | doṣeṇa | by fault, by defect |
| धूमेन | dhūmena | by smoke |
| अग्निः | agniḥ iva | like fire |
| आवृतः | āvṛtaḥ | covered |