श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् | स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम्
śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt . svabhāvaniyataṃ karma kurvannāpnoti kilbiṣam
自己的职责，即使有缺陷，也优于他人完美履行的职责。通过履行由自身本性所决定的职责，一个人不会招致罪恶。
One's own duty, (though) defective, is superior to another's duty well performed. By performing a duty as dictated by one's own nature, one does not incur sin.
正如毒物不会伤害在其中诞生的虫子一样，履行自性法（Svadharma，即根据自身本性所规定的职责）的人不会招致任何罪恶。对整个世界而言是毒药的东西，对虫子来说却是甜美的，然而甜美的甘蔗汁却可能导致它的死亡。因此，一个人被指定的职责，即使看起来多么困难，也必须履行，因为它能使人摆脱束缚。如果你试图履行他人的职责，那将带来危险。没有自我知识的人，甚至一刻也无法停止行动。
Just as a poisonous substance does not harm the worm born in that substance? so he who does his Svadharma (the duty ordained according to his own nature) does not incur any sin.What is poison to the whole world is sweet to a worm and yet sugarcane juice that is sweet causes its death. So a mans appointed duty which frees him from bondage must? therefore? be practised however difficult it may seem to be. If you try to do the duty of another it will bring,danger. He who has no knowledge of the Self cannot remain even for a moment without doing action. (Cf.III.35)