Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 - Karma Yoga - Sloka 35

The entire content of this mail is from Swami Chidbhavananda's translation of The Bhagavad Gita, published by Ramakrishna Mission.

Spiritual Practices Conforming to Dispositions -33-35

1 Gita Sloka every day - Chapter 3 -Karma Yaoga - Sloka 35

Arjuna & Krishna

श्रेयान स्वधर्मः विगुणः परधर्मात स्वनुस्थितात  ।

स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मः भयावः ।। श्लोक ३५ 

Shreyan svadharma vigunah paradharmat svanusthitah I

Svadharma nidhanam shreyah paradharmah bhayavah II sloka 35

One's own dharma, though imperfect, is better than the dharma of another well discharged. Better death in one's own dharma; the dharma of another is full of fear.

Man's nature is to have recourse to what gives pleasure and to recoil from what gives pain. Arjuna's temporary set back illustrates this position. From boyhood onwards he had been trained for the dharma of a ruler and a warrior. He delighted in being trained that way, because it was his own duty, svadharma. The impending righteous war demanded his fighting against the revered grandsire, which he didnot like; he even hated it. At this juncture he preferred to be a recluse, subsisting on alms. Nothing good accrues to one by changing one's svadharma  prompted by fear or hatred. Abandoning one's duty and embracing that of another, enticed by ease and pleasure are equally harmful.  Vacillation of the mind is born of weakness; it depraves man more and more. Steadfastness of duty on the other hand, strengthens man and aids the building of character. Constancy is life and vacillation death. Through firm devotion to duty man gains excellence. Arjuna was about to lose his manliness through a change of dharma. Even if he had lived a hermit's life as best he could, his conscience would have been clouded; and that was worse than death. He would have proved himself a coward if he had changed his dharma. Man should always evolve in the make up best suited to him.

A professional farmer does not lose courage and continuous to cultivate even if there be a terrible drought for twelve long years. But a weaver who takes to tilling for a change of occupation gets disheartened if rain falls for one season. A true devotee doesnot deviate from the path of devotion for any reason whatsoever. In life and death, he relies on God.

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa