Home › Chapter 3: Karma Yoga › Verse 35
The Path of Action
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्। स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः
śhreyān swa-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitāt swa-dharme nidhanaṁ śhreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ
It is better to do one's own duty, however lacking in merit, than to do that of another, even though efficiently. It is better to die doing one's own duty, for doing the duty of another is fraught with danger.
śhreyān—better · swa-dharmaḥ—personal duty · viguṇaḥ—tinged with faults · para-dharmāt—than another’s prescribed duties · su-anuṣhṭhitāt—perfectly done · swa-dharme—in one’s personal duties · nidhanam—death · śhreyaḥ—better · para-dharmaḥ—duties prescribed for others · bhaya-āvahaḥ—fraught with fear
dutydeathfearanger
Tell Krishna how this verse meets your life