Bhagavad Gita BG 3.35
Chapter 3, Verse 35 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् । स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः ॥ ३५ ॥
śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣṭhitāt sva-dharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ
Meaning
Better is one's own dharma, though imperfectly performed, than the dharma of another well performed. Death in one's own dharma is better. Another's dharma is filled with danger.
Understanding
This is one of the most famous and controversial verses of the Gita. Svadharma (one's own dharma) is the duty that belongs to one's nature, station, and inner calling. Paradharma (another's dharma) is the duty of someone else. Krishna says: even performing svadharma viguṇaḥ (imperfectly, with flaws) is better than perfectly performing another's duty. Death in svadharma is better. This verse speaks directly to Arjuna: his svadharma is the warrior's path. Pretending to be a renunciant on the battlefield would be paradharma — and 'bhayāvahaḥ' (filled with danger). The verse has universal application: authenticity to one's true nature and calling, even when imperfect, is healthier than perfectly imitating another's path.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| स्वधर्मः | sva-dharmaḥ | one's own dharma / duty aligned with one's nature |
| विगुणः | viguṇaḥ | imperfect / deficient in qualities / not ideal |
| परधर्मात् | para-dharmāt | than another's dharma / than someone else's duty |
| स्वनुष्ठितात् | sv-anuṣṭhitāt | well performed / properly executed |
| भयावहः | bhayāvahaḥ | filled with danger / fear-producing / carrying risk |
| श्रेयान् | śreyān | better / superior / more auspicious |
| स्वधर्मे | sva-dharme | in one's own duty / in one's own path |
| निधनम् | nidhanam | death / dying (in one's own duty is better) |
| श्रेयः | śreyaḥ | better / preferable (even death in own duty) |
| परधर्मः | para-dharmaḥ | another's duty / someone else's path |