श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् | स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः
śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt . svadharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ paradharmo bhayāvahaḥ
自己的职责（Svadharma），即使有缺陷，也胜过他人完美履行的职责。在履行自己的职责中死去是更好的；他人的职责充满危险。
One's own duty [Customary or scripturally ordained observances of different castes and sects.-Tr.], though defective, is superior to another's duty well-performed. Death is better while engaged in one's own duty; another's duty is fraught with fear.
一个人即使在履行自己的职责（斯瓦达玛）时有所不足，甚至因此死去，也比完美地履行他人的职责要好。因为他人的职责充满了陷阱和危险。刹帝利（Kshatriya）的职责是在正义的战争中战斗。阿周那（Arjuna）必须战斗，这是他的职责。即使他在履行职责中死去，对他来说也是更好的，他将升入天堂。他不应履行他人的职责，那会给他带来危险。他也不应停止战斗而走上舍弃之道。（参见《薄伽梵歌》第十八章第47节）。
It is indeed better for man to die discharging his own duty though destitute of merit than for him to live doing the duty of another though performed in a perfect manner. For the duty of another has its pitfalls. The duty of a Kshatriya is to fight in a righteous battle. Arjuna must fight. This is his duty. Even if he dies in the discharge of his own duty? it is better for him. He will go to heaven. He should not do the duty of another man. This will bring him peril. He should not stop from fighting and enter the path of renunciation. (Cf.XVIII.47).