In Bhagavad Gita 18.48, Krishna says one should not abandon the work one is born to, even if it has faults, for all undertakings are covered by faults as fire is by smoke.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय
सदोषमपि न त्यजेत्
सर्वारम्भा हि दोषेण
धूमेनाग्निरिवावृताः ॥ १८-४८ ॥
sahajaṃ karma kaunteya
sadoṣamapi na tyajet
sarvārambhā hi doṣeṇa
dhūmenāgnirivāvṛtāḥ
English transliteration sahajam karma kaunteya
sadoshamapi na tyajet
sarvaarambhaa hi doshena
dhoomenaagnirivaavritaah ॥ 18.48 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One should not abandon the work that is natural to one, O son of Kunti, even though it has faults. For all undertakings are covered by faults, as fire is by smoke.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| सहजम् sahajam | natural to one, inborn |
| कर्म karma | work |
| कौन्तेय kaunteya | O son of Kuntī |
| सदोषम् sadoṣam | with faults sa (with) + doṣam (faults) |
| अपि api | even |
| न na | not |
| त्यजेत् tyajet | should abandon |
| सर्वारम्भाः sarvārambhāḥ | all undertakings sarva (all) + ārambhāḥ (undertakings) |
| हि hi | for |
| दोषेण doṣeṇa | by faults |
| धूमेन dhūmena | by smoke |
| अग्निः agniḥ | fire |
| इव iva | as |
| आवृताः āvṛtāḥ | covered |
Word-wise Chanting
- sa–ha–jaṃ kar–ma kaun–te–ya 8 syllables sa-ha-jam kar-ma kaun-te-ya
- sa–do–ṣa–ma–pi na tya–jet | 8 syllables sa-do-sha-ma-pi na tya-jet
- sar–vā–ram–bhā hi do–ṣe–ṇa 8 syllables sar-vaa-ram-bhaa hi do-she-na
- dhū–me–nāg–ni–ri–vā–vṛ–tāḥ || 18-48 8 syllables dhoo-me-naag-ni-ri-vaa-vri-taah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 18 Verse 48
Context
Krishna explains how one’s own work leads to perfection (18.45–18.48).
Meaning
No work is perfect. Every ārambha, undertaking, has some doṣa, flaw, just as every fire produces some smoke. That is not a reason to abandon one’s sahaja karma, one’s natural work.
Perfectionism can paralyse us. Accepting the imperfection of all work frees us to act.
In Practice
Continue a worthwhile task today even though it is imperfect.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.