BHAGAVAD-GITA 3:35

[Guest guest]

BHAGAVAD-GITA 3:35

 

sreyan sva-dharmo vigunah

para-dharmat sv-anusthitat

sva-dharme nidhanam sreyah

para-dharmo bhayavahah

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

sreyan--far better; sva-dharmah--one's prescribed duties;

vigunah--even faulty; para-dharmat--than duties mentioned for others;

su-anusthitat--perfectly done; sva-dharme--in one's prescribed duties;

nidhanam--destruction; sreyah--better; para-dharmah--duties prescribed

for others; bhaya-avahah--dangerous.

 

TRANSLATION

 

It is far better to discharge one's prescribed duties, even though

faultily, than another's duties perfectly. Destruction in the course

of performing one's own duty is better than engaging in another's

duties, for to follow another's path is dangerous.

 

PURPORT

 

One should therefore discharge his prescribed duties in full Krsna

consciousness rather than those prescribed for others. Materially,

prescribed duties are duties enjoined according to one's

psychophysical condition, under the spell of the modes of material

nature. Spiritual duties are as ordered by the spiritual master for

the transcendental service of Krsna. But whether material or

spiritual, one should stick to his prescribed duties even up to death,

rather than imitate another's prescribed duties. Duties on the

spiritual platform and duties on the material platform may be

different, but the principle of following the authorized direction is

always good for the performer. When one is under the spell of the

modes of material nature, one should follow the prescribed rules for

his particular situation and should not imitate others. For example, a

brahmana, who is in the mode of goodness, is nonviolent, whereas a

ksatriya, who is in the mode of passion, is allowed to be violent. As

such, for a ksatriya it is better to be vanquished following the rules

of violence than to imitate a brahmana who follows the principles of

nonviolence. Everyone has to cleanse his heart by a gradual process,

not abruptly. However, when one transcends the modes of material

nature and is fully situated in Krsna consciousness, he can perform

anything and everything under the direction of a bona fide spiritual

master. In that complete stage of Krsna consciousness, the ksatriya

may act as a brahmana, or a brahmana may act as a ksatriya. In the

transcendental stage, the distinctions of the material world do not

apply. For example, Visvamitra was originally a ksatriya, but later on

he acted as a brahmana, whereas Parasurama was a brahmana but later on

he acted as a ksatriya. Being transcendentally situated, they could do

so; but as long as one is on the material platform, he must perform

his duties according to the modes of material nature. At the same

time, he must have a full sense of Krsna consciousness.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.