Bhagavad Gita · Verse 3.35
Verse 3.35
From Chapter 3 — The Yoga of ActionOriginal text
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्। स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः॥
Translation
“Better one's own duty imperfectly done than another's duty done well. Better to die in one's own duty; another's duty brings danger.”
Source — Bhagavad Gītā 3.35 (traditional Sanskrit text). English rendering by Frenly Divine — a working translation, not an authoritative one.
Understand
What it is saying
Explanation — written by Frenly Divine, not scripture
Sva-dharma is the responsibility that is actually yours, in your situation. The verse warns against borrowing someone else's life as a template.
Why it matters
It is a claim about integrity and fit rather than about hierarchy.
Reflect
Whose life are you measuring yours against?
Write a private reflectionExplore this teaching
- Action
- Duty