Chapter 18 · Moksha Sannyasa Yoga - The Yoga of Liberation through RenunciationKrishna
Verse 47
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 18, श्लोक 47
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।
स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम्॥
Transliteration
Shreyan sva-dharmo vigunah para-dharmat sv-anushthitat
Svabhava-niyatam karma kurvan-na-apnoti kilbisham
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
श्रेयान्shreyanbetter
स्वधर्मःsva-dharmahone's own duty
विगुणःvigunahimperfectly performed
परधर्मात्para-dharmatthan another's duty
स्वनुष्ठितात्sv-anushthitatwell performed
स्वभावनियतम्svabhava-niyatamordained by one's nature
कर्मkarmaduty
कुर्वन्kurvanperforming
न आप्नोतिna apnotidoes not incur
किल्बिषम्kilbishamsin
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
अपना गुणरहित (अपूर्ण) धर्म भी दूसरे के सुन्दर धर्म से श्रेष्ठ है। स्वभाव से नियत कर्म करते हुए मनुष्य पाप नहीं प्राप्त करता।
English Translation
Better is one's own duty, even if imperfectly performed, than the duty of another well performed. One who performs the duty ordained by their own nature incurs no sin.
Commentary (टीका)
This key teaching, echoing verse 3.35, emphasizes that authentic self-expression through one's natural duty is superior to imitating another's path, however well. Performing svadharma, even imperfectly, keeps one aligned with their true nature and free from sin. This principle validates individual uniqueness in the spiritual journey.