Chapter 3, Verse 35
Chapter 3 · karma-yoga
Shloka
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् | स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः ||३-३५||
śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt . svadharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ paradharmo bhayāvahaḥ ||3-35||
English Meaning
English Meaning
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 (is productive of danger).
Hindi Meaning
सम्यक् प्रकार से अनुष्ठित परधर्म की अपेक्षा गुणरहित स्वधर्म का पालन श्रेयष्कर है; स्वधर्म में मरण कल्याणकारक है (किन्तु) परधर्म भय को देने वाला है।।
Russian Meaning
Лучше собственный долг, хотя и лишенный заслуг, чем хорошо исполненный долг другого. Лучше смерть при исполнении собственного долга; долг другого чреват страхом (производит опасность).
Spanish Meaning
Mejor es el deber propio, aunque carente de mérito, que el deber de otro bien cumplido. Mejor es la muerte por deber propio; el deber de otro está lleno de miedo (produce peligro).
Commentary
It is indeed better for man to die discharging his own duty though destitute of merit than for him to live doing the duty of another though performed in a perfect manner. For the duty of another has its pitfalls. The duty of a Kshatriya is to fight in a righteous battle. Arjuna must fight. This is his duty. Even if he dies in the discharge of his own duty? it is better for him. He will go to heaven. He should not do the duty of another man. This will bring him peril. He should not stop from fighting and enter the path of renunciation. (Cf.XVIII.47).