Chapter 18, Verse 47
Chapter 18 · karma-yoga
Shloka
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् | स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ||१८-४७||
śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt . svabhāvaniyataṃ karma kurvannāpnoti kilbiṣam ||18-47||
English Meaning
English Meaning
Better is one's own duty (though) destitute of merits, than the duty of another well performed. He who does the duty ordained by his own nature incurs no sin.
Hindi Meaning
सम्यक् अनुष्ठित परधर्म की अपेक्षा गुणरहित स्वधर्म श्रेष्ठ है। (क्योंकि) स्वभाव से नियत किये गये कर्म को करते हुए मनुष्य पाप को नहीं प्राप्त करता।।
Russian Meaning
Лучше собственный долг (хотя и лишенный достоинств), чем хорошо исполненный долг другого. Тот, кто исполняет долг, предписанный его собственной природой, не навлекает на себя греха.
Spanish Meaning
Mejor es el deber propio (aunque) desprovisto de méritos, que el deber de otro bien cumplido. El que cumple el deber ordenado por su propia naturaleza no incurre en pecado.
Commentary
Just as a poisonous substance does not harm the worm born in that substance? so he who does his Svadharma (the duty ordained according to his own nature) does not incur any sin.What is poison to the whole world is sweet to a worm and yet sugarcane juice that is sweet causes its death. So a mans appointed duty which frees him from bondage must? therefore? be practised however difficult it may seem to be. If you try to do the duty of another it will bring,danger. He who has no knowledge of the Self cannot remain even for a moment without doing action. (Cf.III.35)