Bhagavad Gita on comparison and self-worth
The Gita has a word for the life that is yours to live: svadharma. Twice Krishna says it is better to walk your own path imperfectly than someone else’s perfectly. These verses are about measuring yourself by your own work, not by anyone’s results.
Skip to the verse for your situation ↓5 verses from the Gita
- Bhagavad Gita 3.35 · Krishna
Better your own duty imperfectly than another’s done well.
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् । स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः ॥
“Better is one's own duty, though imperfect, than another's duty well performed. Better death in one's own duty; another's duty is dangerous.”
अच्छी तरह आचरणमें लाये हुए दूसरेके धर्मसे गुणोंकी कमीवाला अपना धर्म श्रेष्ठ है । अपने धर्ममें तो मरना भी कल्याणकारक है और दूसरेका धर्म भयको देनेवाला है ॥
You can stop measuring yourself against others and return to the work that is actually yours.
Meaning and commentary → - Bhagavad Gita 18.47 · Krishna
Krishna says it again near the end, so it is not missed.
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् । स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥
“One's own duty, though imperfect, is better than another's duty well performed. Doing the work set by one's nature, a person does not incur wrongdoing.”
अच्छी तरहसे अनुष्ठान किये हुए परधर्मसे गुणरहित अपना धर्म श्रेष्ठ है । कारण कि स्वभावसे नियत किये हुए स्वधर्मरूप कर्मको करता हुआ मनुष्य पापको प्राप्त नहीं होता ॥
You can stop measuring yourself against other people's lives. Peace comes from doing what is actually yours.
Meaning and commentary → - Bhagavad Gita 6.5 · Krishna
You can be your own friend or your own enemy.
उद्धरेदात्मनाऽऽत्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् । आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः ॥
“Lift yourself by yourself; do not let yourself fall. The true self is its own friend, and the true self is its own enemy.”
अपने द्वारा अपना उद्धार करे, अपना पतन न करे क्योंकि आप ही अपना मित्र है और आप ही अपना शत्रु है ॥
You are not helpless in your own life; the way you handle yourself changes everything.
Meaning and commentary → - Bhagavad Gita 6.6 · Krishna
For one who has mastered the mind, the mind is a friend.
बन्धुरात्माऽऽत्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः । अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत् ॥
“For one who has conquered the lower self by the true self, the true self is a friend. For one who has not conquered the lower self, the true self behaves like an enemy.”
जिसने अपनेआपसे अपनेआपको जीत लिया है, उसके लिये आप ही अपना बन्धु है और जिसने अपनेआपको नहीं जीता है, ऐसे अनात्माका आत्मा ही शत्रुतामें शत्रुकी तरह बर्ताव करता है ॥
Self-mastery feels like relief because the part of you that fought you starts helping.
Meaning and commentary → - Bhagavad Gita 2.47 · Krishna
The work is yours. The result is not a measure of you.
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन । मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥
“You have a right to action alone, never to its fruits. Do not become the cause of the result, and do not cling to inaction.”
कर्तव्यकर्म करनेमें ही तेरा अधिकार है, फलोंमें कभी नहीं । अतः तू कर्मफलका हेतु भी मत बन और तेरी अकर्मण्यतामें भी आसक्ति न हो ॥
There is relief in giving your full effort without carrying the burden of the result.
Meaning and commentary →