Verse 3.35
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्। स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः।।
Transliteration (IAST)
śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣṭhitāt | sva-dharme nidhanaṁ śreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ ||
Word-by-Word Meanings
श्रेयान्-better
स्वधर्मः-one's own duty
विगुणः-imperfectly performed
परधर्मात्-than another's duty
निधनम्-death
भयावहः-fraught with danger
Translation
Better is one's own dharma, though imperfectly performed, than the dharma of another well performed. Better is death in one's own dharma; the dharma of another is fraught with danger.
Commentary
This famous verse emphasizes the importance of following one's own nature and calling (svadharma) rather than imitating others, however successful they may appear. Each person has a unique path suited to their temperament and stage of development. Abandoning one's authentic path for another's creates inner conflict and spiritual danger.
Themes
dharmadutykarma