Verse 18.47

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 18.47:

श्रेयान् स्व-धर्मो विगुणः पर-धर्मात् स्वनुष्ठितात् ।
स्वभाव-नियतं कर्म कुर्वन् नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥ ४७ ॥

śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt svanuṣṭhitāt |
svabhāva-niyataṃ karma kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣam || 47 ||

śreyān–better; svadharmaḥ–one’s own occupational duty; viguṇaḥ–imperfectly performed; para-dharmāt–than another’s duty; su-anuṣṭhitāt–very nicely performed; svabhāva-niyatam–regulated by one’s own nature; karma–work; kurvan–by performing; na āpnoti–does not incur; kilbiṣam–sin.

It is more beneficial to perform one’s own occupational duty (sva-dharma), even though imperfectly, than to perfectly execute the duty of another (para-dharma). By performing work according to his nature, a man incurs no sin.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

“It is not proper to engage in acts in the mode of goodness just because one has lost interest in one’s own duty (sva-dharma), considering that duty to be merely in the mode of passion.” For this reason, Śrī Bhagavān speaks this verse beginning with śreyān. One may be unable to perform one’s inferior sva-dharma properly, but it is better than properly performing para-dharma, the prescribed duty of another, which may appear to be superior. “Therefore, O Arjuna, it is improper to renounce your sva-dharma of fighting, just because you see the killing of relatives as faulty, and instead adopt the occupation of a wandering mendicant.”

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

Here, in the context of the present verse, it should be understood that when the word sva-dharma implies varṇāśrama-dharma, then one should perform one’s own prescribed duty, not the duty of another. But when sva-dharma is used to imply ātma-dharma, the soul’s nature to be devoted to Śrī Hari, then one must perform that duty and no other, in accordance with the conclusion of verses such as sarva-dharmān parityajya. Where sva-dharma (one’s duty) means ātma-dharma (the inherent duty of the soul), the word para-dharma (another’s duty) means ‘activities related to the body and mind’. Until a person develops faith in the duty of the soul, it is beneficial to perform prescribed duties according to his innate material nature.

As it is said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.20.9):

tāvat karmāṇi kurvīta na nirvidyeta yāvatā
mat-kathā-śravaṇādau vā śraddhā yāvan na jāyate

As long as one is not satiated by fruitive activity and has not awakened his taste for bhajana by hearing, chanting, etc., one has to follow the principles of scripture.

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura says, “It is better to improperly perform duties in accordance with one’s own nature than to expertly engage in the duties of another. Sva-dharma means the duties prescribed according to one’s natural aptitude and innate qualities. Therefore, engaging in sva-dharma, duty according to one’s nature, is always beneficial, even if not executed expertly. In fact, there is no possibility of incurring sin by performing sva-dharma.”