श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः।।3.35।।
3.35 Ones own duty [Customary or scripturally ordained observances of different castes and sects.-Tr.], though defective, is superior to anothers duty well-performed. Death is better while engaged in ones own duty; anothers duty is fraught with fear.
3.35 Better is ones own duty, though devoid of merit than the duty of another well discharged. Better is death in ones own duty; the duty of another is fraught with fear (is productive of danger).
3.35. Better is ones own duty, [though] it lacks in merit, than the well-performed duty of another; better is the ruin in ones own duty than the good fortune from anothers duty.
Shreyaan swadharmo vigunah paradharmaat swanushthitaat; Swadharme nidhanam shreyah paradharmo bhayaavahah.
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
