śhreyān swa-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitāt
swa-dharme nidhanaṁ śhreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ
It is far better to perform one’s natural prescribed duty, though tinged with faults, than to perform another’s prescribed duty, though perfectly. In fact, it is preferable to die in the discharge of one’s duty, than to follow the path of another, which is fraught with danger.
Word by Word Meaning:
śhreyān - better
swa-dharmaḥ - personal duty
viguṇaḥ - tinged with faults
para-dharmāt - than another’s prescribed duties
su-anuṣhṭhitāt - perfectly done
swa-dharme - in one’s personal duties
nidhanam - death
śhreyaḥ - better
para-dharmaḥ - duties prescribed for others
bhaya-āvahaḥ - fraught with fear