Geetanjali

Bhagavad Geeta 3.35

Sanskrit

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्। स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः।।3.35।।

śhreyān swa-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitāt swa-dharme nidhanaṁ śhreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ

Meaning

Master your unique role imperfectly rather than excel in someone else's. Authenticity beats borrowed success; misalignment breeds anxiety and failure.

Translation

One's own duty, though defective, is superior to another's duty well-performed. Death is better while engaged in one's own duty; another's duty is full of fear.

Related Topics

This verse relates to the following principles from the Bhagavad Geeta: