偈颂 18.4818.118.218.318.418.518.618.718.818.918.1018.1118.1218.1318.1418.1518.1618.1718.1818.1918.2018.2118.2218.2318.2418.2518.2618.2718.2818.2918.3018.3118.3218.3318.3418.3518.3618.3718.3818.3918.4018.4118.4218.4318.4418.4518.4618.4718.4818.4918.5018.5118.5218.5318.5418.5518.5618.5718.5818.5918.6018.6118.6218.6318.6418.6518.6618.6718.6818.6918.7018.7118.7218.7318.7418.7518.7618.7718.78

One should not abandon, O Arjuna, the duty to which one is born, though faulty; for, all undertakings are enveloped by evil, as fire by smoke.

One should not give up the work one is born to, son of Kunti, even if it has defects; for all undertakings are clouded by defects, as fire is by smoke.

One should not give up work that is natural to one, even if it has flaws, because every undertaking is clouded by some fault, just as fire is surrounded by smoke. The image is realistic: there is no perfectly pure action in the world. A warrior's work involves harm, and other work has its own shortcomings. Rather than seeking a flawless task, one should do one's own work in the right spirit. This removes the excuse of imperfection for abandoning duty.