śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt svanuṣṭhitāt svabhāva-niyataṁ karma kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣam
"Better is one's own dharma, though imperfectly performed, than the dharma of another well performed. Performing action ordained by one's nature, one incurs no sin."
What This Means:
It's better to do your own duty imperfectly than someone else's duty perfectly. When you act according to your true nature, you don't accumulate negative karma.
Going Deeper:
This crucial verse (repeated from 3.35) emphasizes authenticity. 'Svadharmo viguna' - one's own dharma, even defective, trumps 'para-dharma svanuṣṭhita' - another's duty well-performed. 'Svabhava-niyatam' grounds dharma in nature, not imposition. 'Na apnoti kilbisham' - no sin accrues - because you're aligned with your essential being.
How To Apply This:
Don't try to be someone else, even someone 'better.' Your authentic path, however humble, leads to freedom. Imitation, however impressive, leads to bondage.
Key Sanskrit Terms: