Verse 18.47

Verse 18.47: “Better is one’s proper code of conduct (Dharman), even though deficient in quality, than an alien code of conduct, be it ever so easy to follow. One performing action consonant with one’s own inborn nature, incurs no defilement. (923)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

Even though one’s own Dharma (proper conduct) be difficult to follow, yet one should look to its ultimate fruit. Should the juice of the bitter nimb tree be a remedy for one’s own well-being (health), one should not grudge its bitterness. Were one to cut down, getting discouraged, a banana tree before it bears fruit, how could one secure its juicy and tasty fruit? In that way, were one to abandon one’s own Dharma (religion), it being difficult to follow, he would be deprived of the happiness of liberation. Though one’s own mother be hunchbacked, yet her maternal love on which one lives, is not crooked. Of what avail would other (stranger) females, even though more beautiful than a Rambha, (rambhā—a courtesan of Heaven) be to a child? There are better qualities in clarified butter than in simple water; yet, could a fish live in it (clarified butter)? That which proves a poison to the entire universe becomes the very nectar to the very germs living in it, while that which is jaggery (gūla—coarse sugar) to the world proves the very death to such germs.

Therefore the particular religion (duties-action) prescribed for a particular person, which (if followed) delivers him from all mundane affairs, should, even though difficult to follow, be followed by him. To try to follow alien Dharmas considered better than one’s own would be (like) making one’s own head do (the work of) walking which is for his legs to do. (Therefore) whatever duties fall to one’s own lot according to the caste-religion one is born in should be performed by him and that would make him conquer (cut) the bonds of action. Is it not imperative that it should be made a rule that one should observe one’s own Dharma and abandon an alien one, Oh Son of Pandu? Could one afford to stop the performance of actions, so long as one has not had a vision of the soul? And where there is action to be performed, there is bound to be physical exertion.