Meaning
Supreme God Krishna spoke
O, Arjuna! It is not advisable to abandon the work that aligns with one's inherent nature, even if it has imperfections. Just as fire is accompanied by smoke, every occupation carries its own set of limitations. (18:48)
Sanskrit
श्रीभगवान् उवाच
सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत् ।
सर्वारम्भा हि दोषेण धूमेनाग्निरिवावृताः॥
Word-by-word
सहजम् कर्म कौन्तेय स-दोषम् अपि न त्यजेत्;
सर्व-आरम्भाः हि दोषेण धूमेन अग्निः इव आवृताः।
Commentary
The note on verse 3:35 elaborates on this concept. A portion of that note is quoted here: “Every individual possesses unique qualities, talents, and potentialities, which should be nurtured to flourish. For instance, if Sachin Tendulkar had aspired for Albert Einstein’s profession, he might not have achieved much. While history may remember him differently from Einstein, his decision to pursue cricket was the best one he could make. He excelled in that field.”
Let’s take another example. The covid-19 pandemic spread across the world in the year 2020. Thousands of doctors, nurses, and ward boys knowingly embraced death serving in the hospitals trying to save the lives of Covid-19 patients, not abandoning their pious duties or swadharma.