Skip to verse content
Bhagavad Gita 18.47
Chapter 18 progress: 47 / 78
Sanskrit
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम्
Transliteration
śhreyān swa-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitāt
svabhāva-niyataṁ karma kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣham
svabhāva-niyataṁ karma kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣham
Synonyms
śreyān: better;
sva: dharmaḥ — one’s own occupation;
viguṇaḥ: imperfectly performed;
para: dharmāt — than another’s occupation;
su: anuṣṭhitāt — perfectly done;
svabhāva: niyatam — prescribed according to one’s nature;
karma: work;
kurvan: performing;
na: never;
āpnoti: achieves;
kilbiṣam: sinful reactions .;
English Meaning
It is better to engage in one’s own occupation, even though one may perform it imperfectly, than to accept another’s occupation and perform it perfectly. Duties prescribed according to one’s nature are never affected by sinful reactions.
Life Theme
Duty and Surrender
Life Application
Doing one’s best in responsibilities while accepting outcomes gracefully.