Bhagavad Gita — Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, Shloka 48

Moksha Sannyasa Yoga

Devanagari script

सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत् । सर्वारम्भा हि दोषेण धूमेनाग्निरिवावृताः ॥ १८.४८ ॥

Transliteration

sahajaṁ karma kaunteya sadoṣam api na tyajet | sarvārambhā hi doṣeṇa dhūmenāgnir ivāvṛtāḥ || 18.48 ||

Translation

হে কৌন্তেয়! স্বভাৱজাত কৰ্ম দোষযুক্ত হলেও ত্যাগ নকৰিবা; কিয়নো সকলো উদ্যোগ ধোঁৱাই আগুন ঢাকি থকাৰ দৰে কোনো-না-কোনো দোষে আৱৃত থাকে।

Gita Press Meaning

हे कुन्तीपुत्र! अपने स्वभाव से प्राप्त कर्म को दोषयुक्त होने पर भी नहीं छोड़ना चाहिए; क्योंकि समस्त उद्योग धुएँ से अग्नि की भाँति किसी-न-किसी दोष से आवृत रहते हैं।

Critical Edition Meaning

O son of Kuntī, one should not abandon the action that is innate (to one’s station and disposition), even if it has defects; for every undertaking is enveloped by some defect, as fire is by smoke.

Comparative Note

Most recensions read the same sense: ‘sahaja’ as ‘born-with/innate’ (often interpreted as svadharma). Traditional commentators tend to connect ‘innate action’ with varṇa-āśrama duty, while academic readings may broaden it to psychologically and socially conditioned vocation. The simile (fire/smoke) supports a pragmatic ethic: imperfection does not negate duty.

Word by Word

• सहजम्: innate, born-with (natural)
• सहजम्: Karma
• Root: सहज

• कर्म: action; duty-work
• कर्म: Karma
• Root: कर्मन्

• कौन्तेय: O son of Kuntī (Arjuna)
• Root: कौन्तेय

• सदोषम्: with defect(s)
• सदोषम्: Karma
• Root: सदोष

• अपि: even; although
• Root: अपि

• न: not
• Root: न

• त्यजेत्: should abandon; should give up
• Root: √त्यज्

• सर्वारम्भाः: all undertakings; all beginnings of actions
• सर्वारम्भाः: Karta
• Root: सर्वारम्भ

• हि: indeed; for
• Root: हि

• दोषेण: by/with defect
• दोषेण: Karana
• Root: दोष

• धूमेन: by smoke
• धूमेन: Karana
• Root: धूम

• अग्निः: fire
• अग्निः: Karta
• Root: अग्नि

• इव: like; as
• Root: इव

• आवृताः: covered; enveloped
• Root: √वृ (आवृ)

Speakers

• Krishna
• Arjuna

Primary Concepts

• Svadharma
• Karma-yoga
• Guṇa-conditioned action
• Pragmatic ethics

Key Themes

• Duty despite imperfection
• Limits of purity in action
• Non-ideal conditions of worldly life

FAQs

Psychological significance?

The verse counsels against perfectionism and avoidance: all real-world projects include friction, error, and mixed motives. A stable mind learns to act responsibly without demanding flawless conditions.

Metaphysical meaning?

In the Gītā’s framework, embodied action is shaped by guṇas and thus cannot be absolutely defect-free. The aim is not metaphysical ‘spotlessness’ of action but right orientation—performing one’s role with discipline and reduced attachment.

Contextual relevance?

In Chapter 18, Kṛṣṇa clarifies renunciation: rather than abandoning prescribed responsibilities, one should relinquish attachment to results and egoistic ownership while continuing appropriate action.

Modern Application?

In work and family life, choose responsible commitments aligned with your capacities and social obligations, and improve them gradually instead of quitting solely because conditions are imperfect.