Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 47

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् ।
स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥

Transliteration

śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt .
svabhāvaniyataṃ karma kurvannāpnoti kilbiṣam ॥

Meaning

Better is one's own dharma, though imperfect, than the dharma of another well performed. Doing the duty determined by one's own nature, one incurs no sin.

Word meanings

श्रेयान् – better
स्वधर्मः – one's own dharma, duty according to one's nature
विगुणः – imperfect, lacking merit
परधर्मात् – than another's dharma
स्वनुष्ठितात् – well performed
स्वभावनियतम् – determined by one's own nature
कर्म – duty, action
कुर्वन् – doing
न आप्नोति – does not incur
किल्बिषम् – sin

Anvaya (word order)

स्वनुष्ठितात् परधर्मात् विगुणः स्वधर्मः श्रेयान्; स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन् किल्बिषं न आप्नोति ।

Explanation

This verse restates one of the Gita's most celebrated principles. In Chapter 3 (3.35) Krishna had said: 'Better is one's own dharma, though imperfect, than another's well performed; better is death in one's own dharma; another's dharma is fraught with fear.' Here in Chapter 18, after the analysis of nature and varna, the same principle is presented on an even deeper foundation. Its repetition shows how central this idea is to the Gita.

The verse says: one's own dharma, even if vigunah — imperfect, performed with shortcomings — is better than another's dharma, even if svanushthita — performed very well. At first this seems strange: how can one's own imperfect work be better than another's perfect work? The answer lies in the words svabhava-niyatam karma, duty determined by one's own nature. One's own dharma springs from one's nature and is in harmony with it. Another's dharma, however attractive it may look from outside, goes against one's nature, and so produces inner conflict, dissatisfaction and unrest.

This applies directly to Arjuna. He is a kshatriya; his svadharma is battle, which seems vigunah, defective, because it involves violence and suffering. On the other hand, living on alms and practising non-violence (2.5) is the dharma of a renunciant and looks more holy from outside. Krishna says: for you, your own dharma of battle is better; the renunciant's way is paradharma, another's dharma, for you.

Kilbisham napnoti — doing the duty fixed by one's nature, one incurs no sin. This answers Arjuna's fear that killing his kinsmen would bring sin (1.36). Krishna assures him that fulfilling one's svadharma without attachment, for the protection of dharma, is not sin. Shankara offers an image: as a worm born in poison is not harmed by that poison, so one who performs the work born of his own nature is not tainted by its defects.

In modern life this principle is extremely relevant. Many people change their path after seeing others' success — simply because another career seems more prestigious or profitable — and then remain dissatisfied all their lives. The Gita says: recognise your nature and walk your own path; even if you are imperfect in it, it will give you the peace and growth that another's path never can.

It should also be understood that svadharma means not only one's occupation but the roles that circumstance, capacity and nature have entrusted to us — as son or daughter, parent, citizen, student, colleague. Fulfilling these roles honestly is itself the practice of svadharma.

Context

The previous verse said that perfection is attained by worshipping the Lord through one's work. This verse states the superiority of one's own dharma. In the next verse (18.48) Krishna says that one's natural duty should not be abandoned even if it has defects.

Life lesson

Rather than imitating others and taking up their path, choose the path that fits your own nature and gifts. Do not lose heart at imperfection in your duty; walking your own path imperfectly is better than walking another's perfectly. Fulfil with complete honesty the role life has given you.

Key terms

Svadharma: Duty suited to one's own nature and situation
Paradharma: Another's duty, not suited to oneself
Viguna: Imperfect, with shortcomings
Svanushthita: Well performed
Kilbisha: Sin, fault