श्रेयान् स्व-धर्मः विगुणः परधर्मात् स्वनुष्ठितात्
स्व-धर्मे निधनम् श्रेयम् पर-धर्मः भयावहः
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मौ विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् ।
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयं परधर्मो भयावहः ॥३:३५॥
shreyaanswadharmau vigunah paradharmaatswanushthitaat
swadharme nidhanam shreyam paradharmo bhayaavahah ||3:35||
shreyaan swa-dharmah vigunah para-dharmaat swanushthitaat
swa-dharme nidhanam shreyah para-dharmah bhayaavahah
Purport Performing one's own imperfect duties is better than doing other's duties well. Death in performing one's own duties is better than performing other's formidable duties.
स्व-धर्मः (swa-dharmah) -- performing one's own duties
विगुणः (vigunah) -- imperfect; deficient
पर-धर्मात् (para-dharmaat) -- than performing others' duties
सु-अनुष्ठितात् (su-anushthitaat) -- well done; done right
निधनम् (nidhanam) -- death
श्रेयम् (shreyam) -- better
पर-धर्मः (para-dharmah) -- performing others' duties
भयावहः (bhayaavahah) -- formidable; dangerous