Verse 18.47
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् | स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ||४७||
Transliteration (IAST)
śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣṭhitāt | svabhāva-niyataṁ karma kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣam ||47||
Word-by-Word Meanings
Translation
Better is one's own duty, though imperfectly performed, than the duty of another well performed. One who does the duty ordained by his own nature incurs no sin.
Commentary
Krishna reiterates the teaching from Chapter 3, emphasizing its importance in the context of final liberation. Shankaracharya explains that performing another's dharma, even excellently, creates bondage because it goes against one's svabhava. Madhva notes that this verse provides Arjuna the final encouragement to fight - his warrior nature makes battle his righteous path.