Gita 18.47
Moksha Sanyasa Yoga
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् । स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥
śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣṭhitāt svabhāva-niyataṁ karma kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣam
In essence: Better is one's own dharma, though imperfect, than another's dharma well-performed. Performing action ordained by one's nature incurs no sin.
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "Why would imperfect svadharma be better than perfect para-dharma?"
Guru: "Because perfection has two dimensions: external and internal. External perfection is performing well by worldly standards. Internal perfection is alignment between action and nature. A kshatriya who becomes an excellent scholar (brahmana role) has external success but internal conflict—they have abandoned their nature. A kshatriya who fights imperfectly but authentically is on the path, even if struggling."
Sadhak: "But shouldn't we aspire to excel?"
Guru: "Excel in YOUR dharma, yes. But 'excellence' in someone else's dharma is a trap. Society may reward it; your soul will not. The teaching is: find your authentic nature first, then excel within it. The farmer who becomes the best farmer serves dharma. The farmer who becomes a mediocre priest has lost the way, even if society respects the priesthood more."
Sadhak: "What does it mean that svabhava-ordained action incurs no sin?"
Guru: "When you act from your authentic nature in service to the cosmic order, the action is karmically clean. Even if results are imperfect, you have done what you were meant to do. But acting against your nature—even with good results—creates subtle disturbance. You have departed from your assigned place in the cosmic dance. 'Kilbiṣam' (sin) comes not from imperfect execution but from fundamental misalignment."
Sadhak: "How do I know my svadharma if I've been doing para-dharma my whole life?"
Guru: "Return to your natural inclinations, before society shaped you. What did you love as a child? What activities give you flow? What work feels like natural expression rather than forced performance? These signals point to svabhava. It may take time to discover—society's conditioning is powerful—but the authentic self is still there, waiting to be recognized."
Did this resonate with you? Share it with someone who needs to hear this.
🌅 Daily Practice
Affirm: 'Today I will honor my svadharma, even if imperfectly. Better authentic struggle than polished imitation. My nature is my path.' This acceptance reduces anxiety about meeting external standards.
When tempted to adopt someone else's approach—a more impressive way of working, a more socially approved method—pause and ask: 'Is this MY way, or am I imitating? Can I find success within my authentic expression?' Return to svadharma.
Review: 'Where today did I honor my nature? Where did I abandon it for external validation? What would it mean to trust my svadharma more fully?' The gradual alignment with authentic nature is the path this verse describes.