Gita 18.48
Moksha Sanyasa Yoga
सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत् । सर्वारम्भा हि दोषेण धूमेनाग्निरिवावृताः ॥
saha-jaṁ karma kaunteya sa-doṣam api na tyajet sarvārambhā hi doṣeṇa dhūmenāgnir ivāvṛtāḥ
In essence: One should not abandon natural duty even if faulty, for all undertakings are covered by defect as fire is covered by smoke.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "But if my dharma causes harm—like a warrior's duty to kill—shouldn't I abandon it?"
Guru: "The verse addresses inherent defects, not adharmic action. A kshatriya fighting dharmically—for protection, justice, righteous cause—has the defect of violence but serves a higher purpose. The smoke is there, but so is the fire's function. Abandoning this duty would create greater harm: unprotected innocents, triumphant evil. Defect doesn't mean adharma; it means inherent imperfection in all worldly action."
Sadhak: "So no action is pure?"
Guru: "Not in this world. Even sattvic action has the subtle defect of attachment to sattva. Even renunciation has the defect of potential escapism. The Gita is supremely realistic: we cannot find a perfect, defect-free path in the realm of action. What we CAN do is choose the path aligned with our nature and offer it to the Divine. That transforms defective action into liberating worship."
Sadhak: "Then why act at all?"
Guru: "Because inaction is also action—and often the more harmful one. Arjuna considering withdrawal from battle was contemplating action with greater defects: abandoning duty, enabling adharma, following confusion. The teaching is: embrace your dharma with its inevitable defects rather than abandoning it for imagined purity. Work through the smoke; don't extinguish the fire."
Sadhak: "How do I manage the defects without abandoning the dharma?"
Guru: "Awareness and offering. Be aware of the defects—don't pretend they don't exist. Then offer the entire action, defects included, to the Divine. The offering purifies. The kshatriya fighting can acknowledge the tragedy of violence while still performing necessary protection. The defect is not denied but held in awareness and surrendered to a higher purpose."
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🌅 Daily Practice
Accept the defects: 'My work today will have inherent imperfections. I will not abandon my dharma because of them. Like fire with smoke, my duty serves its purpose despite limitations.' This acceptance prevents the perfectionism that leads to paralysis or abandonment.
When defects arise—frustrations, ethical compromises, imperfect outcomes—note them without using them as excuses to abandon duty. 'This is the smoke. The fire still burns. I continue.' Manage the smoke while maintaining the fire.
Reflect honestly: 'What defects did I encounter today? Did I accept them as inherent to my dharma, or did I use them to justify withdrawal? Am I distinguishing between acceptable imperfection and actual misalignment?' This reflection clarifies the path forward.