3.35 — One’s own path

Sanskrit · Teaching film · Everyday practice

Speaker: Krishna, addressing Arjuna.

The shloka

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् ।
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः ॥ ३५ ॥

Brief meaning

Better is one’s own dharma, even imperfectly done, than another’s dharma well performed. Death in one’s own dharma is better; another’s dharma brings danger.

In the conversation

Krishna recognises that even the wise act according to their nature, and that suppression alone achieves little. Attraction and aversion attach to every sense and must not be allowed to rule. He then speaks of svadharma: one’s own dharma, even imperfectly done, is better than another’s. This concerns sincere responsibility, and must not be used to justify unfairness or exclusion.

Word by word

श्रेयान् स्वधर्मः विगुणः

Better is one’s own dharma, even imperfect,

परधर्मात् स्वनुष्ठितात्

than another’s dharma well performed.

स्वधर्मे निधनम् श्रेयः

Even death in one’s own dharma is better;

परधर्मः भयावहः

another’s dharma brings fear and danger.

Going deeper

Prakṛti here means one’s own nature, and nigraha means forcible suppression. Rāga and dveṣa, attraction and aversion, are called paripanthinau, two robbers waiting on the road. Svadharma is one’s own dharma, the responsibility that truly belongs to us, while paradharma belongs to another. Viguṇa means imperfectly done. Sincerity in our own path matters more than borrowed perfection.

Everyday reflection

A friend seems to have a more impressive role than you, and you begin to imitate their style and ambitions. Yet your own responsibilities, to family, work or community, still wait. Doing your own part honestly, even with mistakes, brings more peace than performing someone else’s life. What is genuinely yours to do this week, that no one else can do in your place?

Consider today: Do your own part well instead of envying someone else’s role.