|| 3.35 ||
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्। स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः।।
śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣṭhitāt sva-dharme nidhanaṁ śreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ
Word by Word
śreyān (far better) sva-dharmaḥ (one’s own occupation) viguṇaḥ (even if imperfectly done) para-dharmāt (than another’s occupation) su-anuṣṭhitāt (perfectly done) sva-dharme (in one’s own occupation) nidhanam (destruction) śreyaḥ (better) para-dharmaḥ (another’s occupation) bhaya-āvahaḥ (dangerous)
Translation
It is far better to discharge one’s prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another’s duties perfectly. Destruction in the course of performing one’s own duty is better than engaging in another’s duty, for to follow another’s path is dangerous.
Meaning
Kṛṣṇa reinforces the importance of being true to one’s own nature. It is far better to perform one’s own ‘sva-Dharma’, even if imperfectly, than to attempt another person’s duty perfectly. He goes so far as to say that even dying while doing one’s own duty is better than living in someone else’s role.
Following another’s path is ‘bhayāvahaḥ’, or dangerous. Arjuna wanted to adopt the Dharma of a peaceful brahmin, which was not his nature. Kṛṣṇa warns that this would lead to a fractured identity and spiritual stagnation. You cannot find God by being someone else.
Each soul is in a specific material casing for a reason. Real progress comes from accepting that casing and using its specific powers for the Divine. A warrior’s path to God is through courage and justice; a teacher’s path is through knowledge. Arjuna must embrace his own destiny to find his way home.