Chapter 18, Verse 48

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

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

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

This verse explains that in life, everything we do has some imperfections, just like how smoke always comes with fire. Just because an action has faults or isn’t perfect, doesn’t mean we should stop doing it. Each person has their own natural responsibilities, whether it's being a teacher, a soldier, a business person, or in any other role.

For example, even a person who is considered very wise or learned (like a brahmana) sometimes has to perform tasks that might not feel right, such as animal sacrifices during certain rituals. A warrior (ksatriya) has to fight battles, which could mean hurting others, even if they wish to act kindly. Similarly, a merchant might sometimes have to do things that aren’t completely ethical to stay competitive in business, like hiding profits or even engaging in questionable practices. And for someone who works as a service provider (sudra), they might have to obey a difficult boss, even when the boss gives unfair orders.

The essence of this verse is that these challenges and imperfections are part of every role we play in society. We cannot avoid them completely. Instead of running away from our tasks just because they aren’t perfect, it's essential to keep fulfilling our responsibilities. By doing so, we're respecting our nature and the duties that come with it. This approach can help us not only grow as individuals but also contribute to the world around us. Stick to your assigned duties and try to perform them to the best of your ability, accepting that some faults will always be present.