Gita Verse 18.48

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 18, Verse 48

Sanskrit Verse

सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत्। सर्वारम्भा हि दोषेण धूमेनाग्निरिवावृताः।।18.48।।

Transliteration

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

Swami Sivananda's translation

One should not, O Arjuna, abandon the duty to which one is born, though it may be faulty; for, all undertakings are enveloped by evil, just as fire is by smoke.

See also: Commandments in Bhagavad Gita

Chapter link: Gita Chapter 18