Shrimad Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 18: Mokṣha Sanyasa Yogam Verse 47:
(Image Courtesy Mahanidhiswami)
Swa-Dharma Is Appropriate For How We Are Feeling And Can Almost Be Done Automatically
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुण: परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् |
स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् || 18.47||
śhreyān swa-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitāt
svabhāva-niyataṁ karma kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣham|| 18.47||
Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 18- Ver. 47:
Even if it has no merit, one’s duty is superior to another’s well-done duty. One does not commit sin by performing the task that is necessary for their nature.
Explanation
There are two benefits to performing our swa-dharma, or prescribed occupational duties. It fits with how we are feeling. Second, because it is pleasant to the mind, it may virtually be done without thinking, freeing the consciousness to participate in devotion.
Instead, we fight against the natural tendency of our personality if we give up our obligations because we believe they are flawed and take on someone else’s that are inappropriate for us. Arjuna was actually in this circumstance. His Kshatriya character made him more likely to engage in military and administrative tasks.
Events brought him to the point where he had to take part in a war of righteousness. It would not benefit him spiritually if he abdicated his responsibility and withdrew from the battlefield to perform austerities there since even there, he would not be able to escape his natural state.
Instead, it would be preferable for him to keep performing the tasks that come naturally to him and to worship God by giving him the products of his labour. The swa-dharma varies as one advances spiritually. It becomes the dharma of the soul, which is devotion to God, and ceases to exist on the physical platform. At that point, it is OK to abandon one’s job and devote oneself fully to devotion because that is now the swa-dharma of one’s nature. Give aside all types of dharmas and simply surrender unto me, Shree Krishna will say at the end of the Bhagavad Gita for those who qualify, but until that point is achieved, the directive in this verse is applicable.
The swa-dharma varies as one advances spiritually. It becomes the dharma of the soul, which is devotion to God, and ceases to exist on the physical platform.
Verse & what we can learn
We now concentrate on the topic of svadharma, or the collection of deeds referred to as obligation. As we previously observed, understanding our obligation requires undertaking a self-analysis to determine our mental make-up and varna.
While some of us may be better suited for the service industry than others, some of us may be well suited for beginning enterprises. But because it makes more money, it is fairly typical to become fascinated by another person’s profession.
No matter how lucrative or glamorous other careers appear to be, Shri Krishna advises that we should remain to practicing our svadharma. If we choose a different line of work, it can appear that we are performing admirably in the near term.
However, in the long run, we will have problems. Due of our inadequacy for someone else’s job, we will inevitably encounter some issues. Additionally, if we had adhered to what we are good at, we would have been able to provide society with the degree of service that is achievable.
Having preferences for certain behaviours, such as choosing someone else’s line of work above our own, has the negative impact of boosting the ego and should be avoided. In addition, we are merely asked to provide our best efforts in karma yoga and not to worry about the outcome. By upholding our svadharma and doing our very best, we inevitably experience fear of the result of our deed, whether or not it turns out to be a virtue or a sin. Being able to act boldly is a blessing in and of itself.
To acquire knowledge and to implement that knowledge in life one needs to be mentally and physically active and healthy and for that daily meditation is a great tool.
There are various types of meditation like Buddhist meditation, heartfulness meditation, mindfulness meditation, meditation for stress, and each meditation benefits are countless. There is also numerous meditation techniques for beginners which help in practicing daily meditation so go ahead and start your journey towards a peaceful and balanced life.
In the next shloka Shri Krishna explains about duties born of one’s nature.
Let’s learn to live with “The Gita” via Meditation Affinity…