Verse

BG.3.35

कर्मयोग

Chapter 3: Karma Yoga

karmayoga

Verses

3.35 श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्। स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः

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Word meanings

śhreyānbetter;swa-dharmaḥpersonal duty;viguṇaḥtinged with faults;para-dharmātthan another’s prescribed duties;su-anuṣhṭhitātperfectly done;swa-dharmein one’s personal duties;nidhanamdeath;śhreyaḥbetter;para-dharmaḥduties prescribed for others;bhaya-āvahaḥfraught with fear

Verse audio

Divine Verses of the Bhagavad Gita • Swami Dayananda Saraswati

0:000:11

Translation stream

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Dr. S. Sankaranarayan

Better is one's own duty, even if it lacks merit, than the well-performed duty of another; it is better to suffer ruin in one's own duty than to gain success in another's.

Shri Purohit Swami

It is better to do thine 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 to do the duty of another is fraught with danger.

Swami Adidevananda

Better is one's own duty, though ill-done, than the duty of another well-performed. Better is death in one's own duty; the duty of another is fraught with fear.

Swami Gambirananda

One's own duty [Customary or scripturally ordained observances of different castes and sects.-Tr.], though defective, is superior to another's duty well-performed. Death is better while engaged in one's own duty; another's duty is fraught with fear.

Swami Sivananda

Better is one’s own duty, though devoid of merit, than the duty of another well discharged. Better is death in one’s own duty; the duty of another is fraught with fear.