sreyan sva-dharmo vigunah para-dharmat sv-anusthitat sva-bhava-niyatam karma kurvan napnoti kilbisam
Better is one's own duty, though imperfectly performed, than the duty of another well performed. By performing duty ordained by one's own nature, one does not incur sin. This echoes the teaching of chapter three on the primacy of svadharma.
- •Imperfect svadharma is superior to perfectly executed paradharma
- •One's natural duty shields one from sin even when executed imperfectly
- •Authenticity to one's own nature is the basis of dharmic living