Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita 18.47
Chapter 18, verse 47: the Sanskrit, the Roman letters, the meaning and what it is used for.
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.
Explanation
The first half is the same as in verse 3.35. Here it comes at the end of the Gita as part of the discussion of how a person finds fulfilment through work that suits their nature. Together the two verses form a pair at the beginning and the end of the teaching.
Where it fits
This is verse 47 of 78 in chapter 18, "Liberation through renunciation" (Moksha Sannyasa Yoga). previous verse (18.46) · next verse (18.48)
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Related verses
- Bhagavad Gita 2.38
- Bhagavad Gita 2.47
- Bhagavad Gita 2.48
- Bhagavad Gita 3.19
- Bhagavad Gita 3.35
- Bhagavad Gita 4.18
Questions people ask
What does Bhagavad Gita 18.47 mean?
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.
Where is this verse?
It is verse 47 of chapter 18 (Liberation through renunciation), which has 78 verses.
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.