Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga - The Yoga of Selfless ActionKrishna
Verse 35
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 3, श्लोक 35
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः॥३५॥
Transliteration
Shreyaan Sva-Dharmo Vigunah Para-Dharmat Sv-Anushthitat.
Sva-Dharme Nidhanam Shreyah Para-Dharmo Bhaya-Avahah.||35||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
श्रेयान्shreyanbetter
स्वधर्मःsva-dharmahone's own dharma/duty
विगुणःvigunahimperfectly performed
परधर्मात्para-dharmatthan the duty of another
स्वनुष्ठितात्sv-anushthitatwell performed
स्वधर्मेsva-dharmein one's own dharma
निधनम्nidhanamdeath
श्रेयःshreyahbetter
परधर्मःpara-dharmahanother's dharma
भयावहःbhaya-avahahfraught with danger
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
अपना धर्म (कर्तव्य) गुणरहित (अपूर्ण) होने पर भी दूसरे के अच्छी तरह आचरित धर्म से श्रेष्ठ है। अपने धर्म में मर जाना भी कल्याणकारी है; दूसरे का धर्म भय उत्पन्न करने वाला है।
English Translation
Better is one's own dharma, though imperfectly performed, than the dharma of another well performed. It is better to die in one's own dharma; the dharma of another is fraught with danger.
Commentary (टीका)
This is one of the most famous and frequently quoted verses of the entire Gita, repeated again in Chapter 18. Svadharma refers to one's own duty based on one's nature, station, and circumstances. Imitating another's path, however well, goes against one's inner grain and creates inner conflict. Authenticity in one's own spiritual practice, even if imperfect, is far superior to perfectly mimicking someone else's path.