Gita verses on making decisions

When we have to decide, the Gita asks: what is your own work, and what are you attached to? The verses about svadharma (3.35, 18.47), about acting without making the fruit your motive (2.47) and about the chain of anger and confusion that spoils judgement (2.63) are the ones most often used.

The verses

Bhagavad Gita 2.47

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि

karmaṇyevādhikāraste mā phaleṣu kadācana / mā karmaphalaheturbhūrmā te saṅgo'stvakarmaṇi

Meaning: You have a right to action alone, never to its fruits. Do not let the fruit of action be your motive, and do not be attached to inaction.

This is the most quoted verse of the Gita. Read the full explanation

Bhagavad Gita 3.35

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः

śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt / svadharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ paradharmo bhayāvahaḥ

Meaning: One's own duty, though imperfect, is better than another's duty well performed. Death in one's own duty is better; another's duty brings fear.

The word is svadharma, the duty that fits one's own nature and situation. Read the full explanation

Bhagavad Gita 18.47

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्
स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम्

śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt / svabhāvaniyataṃ karma kurvannāpnoti kilbiṣam

Meaning: Better one's own duty, even if imperfect, than another's duty well done. Performing the work set by one's own nature, one incurs no fault.

The first half is the same as in verse 3.35. Read the full explanation

Meanings and explanations are our own wording, not an authorised translation. Readers of the Gita follow different traditions and teachers; please ask yours about what you read here.