BG 18.48
One should not abandon their duty, even if it appears to be defective. All endeavors are enveloped by imperfection, just as fire is obscured by smoke.
सर्वारम्भा हि दोषेण धूमेनाग्निरिवावृताः
-
saha-jaṁ — born of one’s nature
-
saha
-
jaṁ
-
-
karma — duty
-
kaunteya — Arjuna
-
sa-doṣham — with defects
-
sa
-
doṣham
-
-
api — even if
-
na — not
-
tyajet — abandoning
-
sarvārambhā — all endeavors
sarva-ārambhāḥ -
hi — indeed
-
doṣheṇa — with evil
-
dhūmenāgnir — with the smoke of fire
-
dhūmena — with smoke
-
agniḥ — fire
-
-
ivāvṛitāḥ — veiled as
-
iva — as
-
āvṛitāḥ — veiled
-
One attains perfection by diligently attending to their duty. I will now tell you how one attains success through devotion to their actions. One reaches perfection by dedicating their actions to the creator of all beings who pervades all things. It is better to do one's own duty, however defective it may be, than to follow the duty of another, however well one may perform it. One who does the duty ordained by their own nature incurs no sin. One should not abandon their duty, even if it appears to be defective. All endeavors are enveloped by imperfection, just as fire is obscured by smoke. One whose mind is entirely detached, who has conquered the self and is free from desire, attains through renunciation the supreme perfection and freedom from action.
Similar verses
-
It is better to do one's own duty, however defective it may be, than to follow the duty of another, however well one may perform it. One who does the duty ordained by their own nature incurs no sin.
- Verse 18.47
-
It is better to do one's own duty poorly than to do well in the duty of another. It is better to die performing one's own duty, for the duty of another is fraught with danger.
- Verse 3.35
-
Therefore, without attachment, perform the work that is your duty, for one who does their duty without attachment attains perfection.
- Verse 3.19
-
One cannot be free from action by simply abstaining from any actions, nor can one achieve perfection by renunciation alone.
- Verse 3.4
-
One attains perfection by diligently attending to their duty. I will now tell you how one attains success through devotion to their actions.
- Verse 18.45