Chapter 18: Moksha-sannyasa-yoga:: Verse 47
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुण: परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् ।
स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥
śreyān-svadharmo viguṇa: para-dharmāt-svanuṣṭhitāt
svabhāva-niyataṃ karma kurvan-nāpnoti kilbiṣam – 18.47
Better is one’s own pursuit as ordained by his dharma, even if imperfect, than the dharma or pursuit of another, though performed well. No sin is incurred by one who remains engaged in activity consonant with one’s own nature.
Chapter 18: Moksha-sannyasa-yoga: - Verse 47
Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha
In the context of such consistent and wholesome devotion (18.46), to think one’s duty is inferior to another’s is wrong. All activities spring from one single Nature and constitute the world aggregate. It is like the mouth and rectum or the head and feet in our body. All are equally important and serve their respective purposes alike. Any kind of comparison will be irrelevant and harmful. The objective should be to rise above all divisive thoughts and abide in supreme oneness.
Even if one’s activity is not noble or lofty, conducting it wholeheartedly, rather than aspiring to somehow do another’s, is the ideal option. For, both good and bad constitute the amalgam called world!
Earlier, Krishna had emphasized: Even if one courts death in performing his ordained activity, it will be better than attempting to do another’s (3.35). Total dedication makes all activities equally divine and rewarding.
