Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 18 · Moksha Sannyasa Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 18.47 श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः
श्लोक 18.47
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् ।
स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥
śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt |
svabhāvaniyataṃ karma kurvannāpnoti kilbiṣam ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
दूसरे का धर्म भली-भाँति निभाने से अपना धर्म, गुणों में कमी होने पर भी, श्रेष्ठ है। स्वभाव से तय कर्म करने वाला पाप का भागी नहीं होता।
Meaning in English
Better is one's own duty, even if done imperfectly, than another's duty done well. Doing the work determined by one's own nature, one incurs no sin.
Bhagavad Gita 18.47 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| श्रेयान् | śreyān | better |
| स्वधर्मः | sva-dharmaḥ | one's own duty |
| विगुणः | viguṇaḥ | though imperfect |
| परधर्मात् | para-dharmāt | than another's duty |
| स्वनुष्ठितात् | su-anuṣṭhitāt | well performed |
| स्वभावनियतम् | svabhāva-niyatam | ordained by one's nature |
| कर्म | karma | work |
| कुर्वन् | kurvan | doing |
| न आप्नोति | na āpnoti | does not incur |
| किल्बिषम् | kilbiṣam | sin |
Explanation
One's own duty, even done imperfectly, is better than another's duty done well. A person who does the work that his own nature lays down does not incur sin. Following a path that fits who we are, with all its flaws, is safer than borrowing a path that does not.
The first line repeats 3.35 almost word for word, showing how central the idea is. There the warning was against imitating another's path; here it is tied to svabhāva, one's inner nature. Shankara adds that just as a creature born to a nature does not suffer by following it, no fault attaches to natural duty. Ramanuja reads svadharma for Arjuna as karma-yoga, which suits his nature better than a premature path of pure contemplation. Gandhi often cited the verse to stress faithfulness to one's own calling over envy of others.
भावार्थ
अच्छी तरह आचरण किए गए दूसरे के धर्म से अपना धर्म, गुणरहित होने पर भी, श्रेष्ठ है। स्वभाव से नियत कर्म करते हुए मनुष्य पाप को प्राप्त नहीं होता। इसलिए अपना कर्तव्य ही निभाना चाहिए।
Living it today
Your own path, walked clumsily, will take you further than someone else's path copied perfectly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 18.47?
One's own duty, even done imperfectly, is better than another's duty done well. A person who does the work that his own nature lays down does not incur sin. Following a path that fits who we are, with all its flaws, is safer than borrowing a path that does not.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 18.47?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 18 (Moksha Sannyasa Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 18.47 in daily life?
Your own path, walked clumsily, will take you further than someone else's path copied perfectly.
Reflected on verse 18.47?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.