In Bhagavad Gita 18.47, Krishna says one’s own dharma, even if imperfectly done, is better than another’s dharma well performed; doing the duty fixed by one’s nature, one incurs no sin.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः
परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्
स्वभावनियतं कर्म
कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥ १८-४७ ॥
śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ
paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt
svabhāvaniyataṃ karma
kurvannāpnoti kilbiṣam
English transliteration shreyaansvadharmo vigunah
paradharmaatsvanushthitaat
svabhaavaniyatam karma
kurvannaapnoti kilbisham ॥ 18.47 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Better is one’s own dharma, though imperfect, than the dharma of another well performed. One who performs the duty ordained by his own nature incurs no sin.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| श्रेयान् śreyān | better |
| स्वधर्मः svadharmaḥ | one’s own dharma sva (own) + dharmaḥ (dharma) |
| विगुणः viguṇaḥ | imperfect |
| परधर्मात् paradharmāt | than another’s dharma para (another) + dharmāt (dharma) |
| स्वनुष्ठितात् svanuṣṭhitāt | well performed |
| स्वभावनियतम् svabhāvaniyatam | ordained by one’s own nature svabhāva (own nature) + niyatam (ordained) |
| कर्म karma | duty |
| कुर्वन् kurvan | performing |
| न na | not |
| आप्नोति āpnoti | incurs |
| किल्बिषम् kilbiṣam | sin |
Word-wise Chanting
- śre–yān–sva–dhar–mo vi–gu–ṇaḥ 8 syllables shre-yaan-sva-dhar-mo vi-gu-nah
- pa–ra–dhar–māt–sva–nuṣ–ṭhi–tāt | 8 syllables pa-ra-dhar-maat-sva-nush-thi-taat
- sva–bhā–va–ni–ya–taṃ kar–ma 8 syllables sva-bhaa-va-ni-ya-tam kar-ma
- kur–van–nāp–no–ti kil–bi–ṣam || 18-47 8 syllables kur-van-naap-no-ti kil-bi-sham
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 18 Verse 47
Context
Krishna explains how one’s own work leads to perfection (18.45–18.48); this repeats the teaching of 3.35.
Meaning
Sva-dharma, the path suited to one’s own nature, is śreyas, better, even if one performs it viguṇa, imperfectly, than para-dharma, someone else’s path, performed well. Acting according to one’s nature brings no kilbiṣa, sin.
Imitating others is a common source of unhappiness. Authenticity, even with flaws, is better than excellent imitation.
In Practice
Stop comparing your path with someone else’s today. Walk your own path sincerely.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.