श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् | स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः
śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt . svadharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ paradharmo bhayāvahaḥ
自己的職責（svadharma），即使有缺陷，也勝過他人完美履行的職責（paradharma）。在履行自己的職責（svadharma）中死去是更好的；他人的職責（paradharma）充滿危險。
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.
履行自己的職責（svadharma），即使不完美，也勝過完美地履行他人的職責（paradharma）。阿周那（Arjuna）作為剎帝利（Kshatriya），其職責是戰鬥，即使戰死也比放棄本分去履行他人職責為佳。
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).