1 Gita Sloka Every Day - Chapter 18 - Moksha Sanyasa Yoga - Sloka 47

The entire content of this mail is from Shri V N Gopala Desikan's  Srimad Bhagavad Gita, published by Vishishtadvaita Research Centre, Chennai and The Bhagavad Gita by Swami Chidbhavananda published by Ramakrishna Mission

The ways and means of liberation are now expounded

The Four Fold Caste System Explained 41-48

1 Gita Sloka  Every Day - Chapter 18 - Moksha Sanyasa Yoga - Sloka 47

Shreyan svadharmah vigunah para dharmath svanu stithat I

Sva bhavaniyatam karma kurchan na apnoti kilbisam II sloka 47

श्रेयान स्वधर्म विगुणः पर धर्मात् स्वनु स्तिथात् I 

स्व भवनियतं कर्म कुर्चन् न आप्नोति किल्बिषं II श्लोक 47

Better in one's own dharma, though imperfect, than the dharma of another well performed. He who does the duty ordained by his own nature incurs no sin.

 The karma that is in tune with a man's disposition is his svadharma. Arjuna's case clarifie the issue raised herein. He is ordained by his nature for warfare. Events have driven him to the necessity of waging a righteous war. His duty is to pursue it even if it proves itself disadvantageous to him. If the odds turn against him, even then he is to fight to the finish. It is possible for him to retreat from the battle field and resort to severe austerity in the forest. Imperfect war is better for him than a perfect penance. Death due to opposing the wicked is better for him than life seeking the hereafter.

A man trained for medicine should not choose to become a lawyer on the ground that he can plead a case very fluently. It is injurious if one changes one's calling prompted by likes and dislikes, by opportunism and careerist mentality. One's personality gets dissipated by it. The training that one has received and the time devoted to it are all wasted. On the other hand, there is a two fold advantage in a man confining himself to his svadharma. Firstly its natural to him as a water to a fish. He need not unduly strain himself in picking up and in discharging his inherited duty. He executes it almost involuntarily.Secondly, there is the release of consciousness to be directed godward. He is a yogi who achieves the maximum benefit with minimum effort. To make his worldly life a fulfillment and to reach godhood - these are the ideals et by the yogi for himself. Devotion to svadharma is the sure means to the achievement of these objects. All activities are unfailing means to reach godhood. And that man who swerves not from his svadharma gains in constancy. No yoga is possible without this constancy.

But should not an aspirant renounce the world and all worldly activities when dispassion and desire for liberation dawn in his mind? the question is answered inn the next sloka.