Shreyan Svadharmo Vigunah (Bhagavad Gita 3.35) — Word-by-Word Meaning

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः

Every Sanskrit word explained in English

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Word-by-Word Breakdown

श्रेयान्

śhreyān

better, more beneficial

स्वधर्मः

swa-dharmaḥ

one's own duty, one's own prescribed path

विगुणः

viguṇaḥ

imperfect, lacking in merit, tinged with faults

परधर्मात्

para-dharmāt

than another's duty

स्वनुष्ठितात्

sv-anuṣhṭhitāt

though perfectly performed, well discharged

स्वधर्मे

swa-dharme

in one's own duty

निधनम्

nidhanam

death

श्रेयः

śhreyaḥ

better, preferable

परधर्मः

para-dharmaḥ

another's duty, the path meant for someone else

भयावहः

bhayāvahaḥ

fraught with fear, dangerous

Complete Translation

It is far better to perform one's own duty, even imperfectly, than to perform another's duty perfectly. Even death in the course of one's own duty is better; to follow another's path is perilous and fraught with fear.

Origin & History

Source: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 35

Author: Spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna; recorded by Sage Veda Vyasa in the Mahabharata (Bhishma Parva)

Period: Ancient (part of the Mahabharata, traditionally dated to the Dvapara Yuga)

The third chapter of the Gita, Karma Yoga, the path of selfless action, addresses why and how one must act in the world. Arjuna had been tempted to renounce his duty as a warrior and withdraw from the battlefield, imagining a contemplative life to be higher. Krishna gives this verse to remind him that his own dharma, fighting a righteous battle, is the right path for him, and that to abandon it for another's path would be perilous and fearful.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Shreyan Svadharmo Vigunah mean?▼

It means 'Better is one's own duty, though imperfect, than the duty of another well performed. Better is death in one's own duty; another's duty is fraught with fear.' It is Krishna's teaching on svadharma in Bhagavad Gita 3.35.

What is svadharma?▼

Svadharma means 'one's own dharma' — the duty, role, and path that flow naturally from one's own nature and station in life. The Gita teaches that fulfilling one's svadharma, even imperfectly, is spiritually superior to abandoning it to take up someone else's duty.

Why does Krishna say another's duty is 'fraught with fear'?▼

Acting against one's own nature creates inner conflict, instability, and insecurity, because it is not rooted in who one truly is. Krishna calls this 'bhayavaha' (fearful) to warn that imitating another's path, however attractive, leads away from one's authentic growth.

Does this verse appear elsewhere in the Gita?▼

Yes. A closely related teaching appears again in Bhagavad Gita 18.47, reaffirming that it is better to perform one's own duty imperfectly than another's duty well. This repetition underlines how central svadharma is to the Gita's message.

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