श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् ।
स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥
स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
अच्छी तरहसे अनुष्ठान किये हुए परधर्मसे गुणरहित अपना धर्म श्रेष्ठ है । कारण कि स्वभावसे नियत किये हुए स्वधर्मरूप कर्मको करता हुआ मनुष्य पापको प्राप्त नहीं होता ॥
English
One's own duty, though imperfect, is better than another's duty well performed. Doing the work set by one's nature, a person does not incur wrongdoing.
What this verse means
It is better to do your own duty, even imperfectly, than to do someone else's duty well. Acting according to your nature does not lead you into wrongdoing.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen by doubt, and Krishna keeps returning him to action. After teaching sacrifice and devotion through work, Krishna now sharpens the point: the duty born of your own nature is safer than copying someone else's path.
Why this verse still matters
You are tempted to take the job that looks impressive, the role that earns praise, the life that belongs to someone else. This verse says the mismatch itself creates friction; your own work, even imperfectly done, keeps you clean.
The takeaway
You can stop measuring yourself against other people's lives. Peace comes from doing what is actually yours.
Word-by-word translation
श्रेयान् (better) / स्वधर्मः (one's own duty) / विगुणः (without qualities, imperfect) / परधर्मात् (than another's duty) / स्वनुष्ठितात् (well performed) / स्वभावनियतं (fixed by one's own nature) / कर्म (action, work) / कुर्वन् (doing) / न (not) / आप्नोति (attains) / किल्बिषम् (wrongdoing, fault)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18: Moksha Sanyasa Yoga — Liberation through Renunciation, which contains 78 verses.
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses)