Chapter 3 Shloka 35

श्रेयान् स्वधर्मो विगुण: परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।

स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेय: परधर्मो भयावह:।।३५।।

Bhagwan advises performance of action

according to one’s own nature:

One’s own dharma even though not distinguished

is preferable to the elevated dharma of another.

Even death in the performance of one’s own duty

is preferable; another’s duty is fraught with fear.

Chapter 3 Shloka 35

श्रेयान् स्वधर्मो विगुण: परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।

स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेय: परधर्मो भयावह:।।३५।।

Bhagwan advises performance of action according to one’s own nature:

One’s own dharma even though not distinguished is preferable to the elevated dharma of another. Even death in the performance of one’s own duty is preferable; another’s duty is fraught with fear.

Dharma = dhri + man

Dhri – That which is; that which exists; that which is established; that which is protected; that which is supportive; that which one has imbibed.

Man – To remember, to agree with, to cherish as precious; to consider to be greater, to manifest, to worship.

Therefore, Dharma will mean:

1. To accept and revere what exists.

2. To manifest in practice what has long been established as Truth.

3. To use in life those principles which have always proved advantageous.

4. To utilise in life those basic and unique attributes which eminent souls have imbibed through the ages.

5. To accept those gunas bestowed upon us by nature as our dharma.

Our sense organs, mind and intellect all have their own gunas i.e. qualities. All these qualities contain certain energies which impel an individual to act in a certain manner.

The dharma of the jivatma (personalised Atma):

a) To remain detached.

b) To stay uninfluenced by all gunas.

c) To be devoid of attachment to his body and its attributes.

d) To be an Atmavaan.

All this is possible only if the intellect remains firmly established in its dharma.

The dharma of the intellect

The intellect is the discerning faculty. If it gets attached to objects, its natural qualities are superimposed by attachment and it loses its basic objectivity. If it is not partial, it will side with justice and will not support the mind in its pursuit of temporary pleasures. It will then always support the Truth and will proceed towards greatness and the attainment of the state of an Atmavaan.

The dharma of the intellect is:

1. To lead one from death to immortality.

2. To lead one from sorrow to happiness.

3. To direct one from darkness to light.

4. To free one from dependency on objects.

5. To help one discriminate between truth and untruth.

6. To release one from the shackles of the body and take one towards mergence with the Atma.

7. To establish one in one’s true Essence – the Self.

‘Your own dharma is better than another’s dharma.’

If the intellect follows its own dharma:

a) It will always support nishkam karmas.

b) It will not advise changing one’s own gunas, but utilising them with an attitude of selflessness.

c) It will exhort one to use one’s own god given faculties in a detached manner.

We want to change our natural gunas when:

a)  we claim the gunas of the body as our own;

b)  we identify with the body;

c)  we seek to procure an eminent status for the body.

However, if we remember that we are the Atma and not the body, we will cease to identify ourselves with the body. We will give our body along with its inherent attributes to others in service. We will no longer be proud of the qualities of this body and we will allow it to perform its natural duties. Similarly, if the intellect is allowed to adhere to its dharma, you will fulfil the dharma determined by your gunas, without any attachment.

The Lord therefore stresses that it is better to die performing one’s own dharma in accordance with the qualities allotted to us than to engage in the duties inherent in the gunas of another.

1. Another’s dharma will give you life long sorrow.

2. You will never be established in Truth.

3. You will always be fearful.

4. Doubts, suspicions and fear of failure will haunt you.

5. Your attachment to the body and fear of the death of the body will both increase.

Little One! My very own! An Atmavaan remains ever uninfluenced by the guna dharma of another.

a) Remember, each one can become an Atmavaan.

b) All can become detached.

c) Each one can transcend gunas and become a gunatit.

d) You can become ever satiated and rise above attractions and repulsion.

e) Each one can transcend the body idea.

But each one is given certain distinctive abilities which guide him into separate functions. Each one has a unique destiny and different combinations of qualities. Thus each one’s work will be different. Because of this the individual labours under the illusion that his dharma and his path is different to that of another.

The Lord says, “Whatever you are, wherever you may be, no matter what qualities you possess, merely renounce attachment with them and let your innate gunas perform their natural deeds. This will take you towards Self Realisation.”