Verse-47
Chapter 18 — Moksha Sanyasa Yoga
Verse 47
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt
svabhāvaniyatam karma kurvannāpnoti kilbiṣam
🕉 English Translation
Accha bhale hee ho parr dharma hi,
Hai behtar dharma apna guna rahit bhi.
Karte huey karma swabhav se,
Nahin paap lagta kabhi bhi useh.
📜 Translation
English
Better is the performance of one's own work though devoid of merit than the performance of another's duty well done; as by doing the work ordained by one's nature one does not incur sin.
While performing one's own duties this can come to one's mind that a particular work or the work performed by a particular person is better and meritorious. Some feeling of inferiority or unworthiness can arise with respect to one's work; for this is given in this verse an inspirational guideline by the Blessed Lord.
If seen from the deliberative point of view, this verse is found to contain many significant indications. The meaning of duty here is obligatory duty. In accordance with the four classes of society, this is proper too. Towards one's duty, one should neither have a sense of superiority nor a feeling of inferiority. When this has been specified that it is possible to attain perfection or elevation by discharging one's duty and it is possible for everyone to make his work worship–then in no manner can the feeling of superiority or inferiority have any place.
Along with this, it can also be taken in this sense that the student must take care of his duties. His foremost duty is to study. He should concentrate on his studies; this is his duty born of his nature at the station of life in which he is. If someone is a teacher then his duty is to teach properly. Similarly in case of a trader or an employee, he also has to observe in his respective field as to what his duty is! At that time by taking note of someone to fail or waver from one's duty is not good. The state of dilemma can pose a problem on both sides. One is loser from both ends. Think! What injustice this is with the high values of life! One is a human being, wherever the Lord has placed us or the sphere of activity ordained by our previously accumulated impressions, that has to be discharged in a satisfactory manner. Along with this it has to be kept in mind, that we are human beings and we should behave in a manner which is becoming that of a human being. Do not give any expression to any animalistic tendencies in life. This too is conforming to righteousness. Pure food, thoughts, good dispositions, virtuous deeds should be part of life this is the duty of the human being. Do not forget the Supreme because He has provided us with life and everything in life. Do not allow egoism to enter life after forgetting Him.
The reality is that if the human being keeps on discharging assigned duties as ordained by the scriptures in the spirit of the Divine–then the inner-self will not be tainted by the accumulated impressions and deformities; This is the state of protecting oneself from evil while performing one's obligatory duties born of nature.