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Better is one's own duty, though devoid of merit than the duty of another well discharged. Better is death in one's own duty; the duty of another is fraught with fear (is productive of danger).

Better one's own dharma, though imperfectly done, than the dharma of another well performed. Better death in one's own dharma; the dharma of another brings fear.

This is one of the Gita's most quoted verses. Krishna says it is better to follow one's own dharma (svadharma), even imperfectly, than another's dharma done well. Dying in one's own duty is better; another's path is full of danger. In context, Arjuna is tempted to abandon the warrior's role for the life of a renunciant, which is not his own. Traditions read svadharma as the duty of one's social station, or more broadly as one's own nature and calling. Either way, the verse values authenticity over imitation.