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.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 3.35
Hindi · हिन्दी
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 ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
श्रेयान्betterस्वधर्मःone's own dutyविगुणःimperfect, lacking qualitiesपरधर्मात्than another's dutyस्वनुष्ठितात्well performedस्वधर्मेin one's own dutyनिधनम्deathश्रेयःbetter, more auspiciousपरधर्मःanother's dutyभयावहःfearful, dangerous
Read literallybetter · one's own duty · imperfect, lacking qualities · than another's duty · well performed · in one's own duty · death · better, more auspicious · another's duty · fearful, dangerous
Understanding the verse
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Krishna ranks your own duty, done imperfectly, above someone else's duty done well.
Your own responsibility matters more than copying someone else's path. Even if you do it imperfectly, it is better than doing another person's role well.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Arjuna is frozen between his warrior duty and his fear of killing relatives. Krishna answers by grounding him in his own role: the right action is the one that belongs to him, however rough or unpolished it looks.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
At a family gathering everyone has an opinion on what the younger daughter should study. She keeps returning to the craft that fits her, even if she does it clumsily at first.
The takeaway
“You can stop measuring yourself against others and return to the work that is actually yours.”
Your own responsibility matters more than copying someone else's path. Even if you do it imperfectly, it is better than doing another person's role well.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.35?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Karma Yoga" (The Yoga of Action).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 3.35?
Verse 35 sits in Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita — Karma Yoga, "The Yoga of Action". The chapter has 43 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 3.35 matter today?
At a family gathering everyone has an opinion on what the younger daughter should study. She keeps returning to the craft that fits her, even if she does it clumsily at first.
Krishna ranks your own duty, done imperfectly, above someone else's duty done well.
What this verse means
Your own responsibility matters more than copying someone else's path. Even if you do it imperfectly, it is better than doing another person's role well.
Context & commentary
Arjuna is frozen between his warrior duty and his fear of killing relatives. Krishna answers by grounding him in his own role: the right action is the one that belongs to him, however rough or unpolished it looks.
What it looks like today
At a family gathering everyone has an opinion on what the younger daughter should study. She keeps returning to the craft that fits her, even if she does it clumsily at first.
“You can stop measuring yourself against others and return to the work that is actually yours.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), duty (13 verses)