Every fire has some smoke

sahajaṃ karma kaunteya sadoṣamapi na tyajetsarvārambhā hi doṣeṇa dhūmenāgnirivāvṛtāḥ

Do not give up your natural work, son of Kunti, even if it has flaws. Every undertaking is clouded by flaws, as fire by smoke.

What it means

Krishna gives a lovely image. Every fire has some smoke. Every kind of karma, every kind of work, has some flaws. So don't abandon your natural work just because it isn't perfect. Look for the fire's warmth, and accept a little smoke. There's no flawless path.

The story

Arjuna sees the faults in a warrior's life, the violence, the loss. Krishna doesn't deny them. He says every path has its smoke, and hiding from his own won't escape it.

In your life

Imagine a teacher frustrated by paperwork who still loves the moment a child understands. Name one smoky part of your work, and one warm part. Focus on the warmth today.